Ink jet printing method and ink jet printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ink jet printing method includes attaching an ink composition to a cloth by using a printer head which has a nozzle discharging the ink composition, a pressure chamber for imparting pressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle to discharge the ink composition, and a connection portion connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle, and in which a distance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance of the connection portion being from a portion of the pressure chamber where the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle, in which the ink composition includes the resin as a solid content in the amount of 10% by mass to 26% by mass with respect to the ink composition, the ratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the total content of the solid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, and a sum of the total content of the solid content of the resin and the total content of the organic solvent is 37% by mass or less with respect to the ink composition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/133,380, filed on Apr. 20, 2016, which claims priority to JapanesePatent Application Nos. 2015-088119, filed Apr. 23, 2015; 2015-088120,filed Apr. 23, 2015; 2015-157909, filed Aug. 10, 2015 and 2015-157910,filed Aug. 10, 2015, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ink jet printing method and an inkjet printing apparatus.

2. Related Art

In the related art, a printing method, in which an image is recorded ona cloth such as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric,has been known. In recent years, from a viewpoint of being able to usean ink used for printing effectively, the use of an ink jet recordingmethod is being reviewed. In the ink jet printing method using this inkjet recording method, an ink in a shape of a liquid droplet isdischarged from nozzles of a head and attached to the cloth to form animage of an ink coated film on the cloth.

The ink used for this ink jet printing method includes, for example, acoloring material such as a pigment or a dye, a dispersant (asurfactant) and a solvent (water, an organic solvent, or the like).Here, if the dye is used for a coloring material, there is a tendencythat properties of the recorded image, such as light resistance, are notexcellent. Thus, the pigment may be used as the coloring material. In acase where the pigment is used as the coloring material, it is necessaryto add a resin for fixing an ink in order to fix the pigment on thecloth.

However, in a case where the pigment is used as the coloring material,if the ink amount of the ink droplet is reduced in order to obtain animage with a high resolution and high quality or to further increase adrying rate, there is a problem: the ink droplet tends to remain on afuzz of the cloth, aggregation unevenness or bleeding occurs, or imageconcealment is deteriorated. For example, JP-A-2014-163021 discloses, asa pigment printing ink jet recording method in which a contamination ofthe cloth is suppressed and the concealment of the obtained image anddrying rate are excellent, a technology in which a pigment printing inkcomposition at least including a pigment as the coloring material isdischarged from a nozzle opening, as an ink droplet of which the inkamount of an ink droplet is 9 ng or less, such that the averagedischarging rate V at a distance of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm in the clothdirection from the nozzle opening is 5 m/s or higher; and the pigmentprinting ink composition is attached to the cloth.

However, if a large amount of a fixing resin is included in the ink inorder to enhance adhesion (washing fastness) of the ink to the cloth,the ink may become dried from a nozzle surface and a problem ofintermittency occurs. In particular, an ink jet head which has been usedfor the pigment printing ink jet recording method in the related art isconfigured such that a nozzle hole and a pressure chamber are directlyconnected to each other without going through a communicating hole.Therefore, if the intention is to increase washing fastness byincreasing the amount of the fixing resin in the ink, the ink tends tobecome dried from the nozzle surface and a major problem ofintermittency occurs.

In a case where a white ink is used as the ink, since the white ink isfrequently used for recording a base image on a dark color cloth, thecontent of a pigment in the ink is increased in order to secure theimage concealment. Since it is necessary to increase the content of aresin in the white ink corresponding to the increase in the content ofthe pigment from a viewpoint of washing fastness of the obtained inkcoated film, in a case where the white ink is used, the ink attachmentamount on the cloth is increased. Therefore, in a case where the whiteink is used, an increase in the amount of a mist at the time ofdischarging contaminates the nozzle surface or strike through of the inkoccurs, which may deteriorate color developing properties.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an advantage of some aspects of the invention, by solving atleast part of the aforementioned problem, is to provide an ink jetprinting method, in which an ink jet printed matter having excellentwashing fastness of the obtained ink coated film can be provided withoutimpairing intermittency, when a pigment ink is imparted on a cloth by anink jet method; and an ink jet printing apparatus for executing themethod.

If a large amount of the fixing resin is included in the ink in order toenhance adhesion (washing fastness) of the ink on the cloth, the ink maybecome dried from the nozzle surface and a problem of intermittencyoccurs. In particular, an ink jet head which has been used for thepigment printing ink jet recording method in the related art isconfigured such that a nozzle hole and a pressure chamber are directlyconnected to each other without going through a communicating hole.Therefore, if the intention is to increase washing fastness byincreasing the amount of the fixing resin in the ink, the ink tends tobecome dried from the nozzle surface and a major problem ofintermittency occurs.

In addition, in a case where a non-white ink such as a color ink is usedas the ink, since the attachment amount is small compared to that of thewhite ink, the attachment amount of the resin is sufficient and there isa tendency that washing fastness is decreased. In addition, in a casewhere the non-white ink is used, since the non-white ink is used forrecording a picture or a letter, a clear image having no bleeding andexcellent color developing properties is required.

Therefore, an advantage of some aspects of the invention, by solving atleast part of the aforementioned problem, is to provide an ink jetprinting method, in which an ink jet printed matter having excellentwashing fastness of the obtained ink coated film can be provided withoutimpairing intermittency, when a pigment ink is imparted on a cloth by anink jet method; and an ink jet printing apparatus for executing themethod.

The invention can be realized in the following aspects or applicationexamples.

Application Example 1

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink jetprinting method including: attaching an ink composition to a cloth byusing a printer head which has a nozzle discharging the ink composition,a pressure chamber for imparting pressure to the ink composition tocause the nozzle to discharge the ink composition, and a connectionportion connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle, and in which adistance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance ofthe connection portion being from a portion of the pressure chamberwhere the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side tothe nozzle.

The ink composition includes the resin as a solid content in the amountof 10% by mass to 26% by mass with respect to the ink composition, theratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the total contentof the solid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, and a sum of the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin and the total content of theorganic solvent is 37% by mass or less with respect to the inkcomposition.

According to the ink jet printing method of Application Example 1, bypreventing the ink from the nozzle surface from becoming dried when thepigment ink is imparted to the cloth by the ink jet method, it ispossible to provide the ink jet printed matter having excellent washingfastness of the obtained ink coated film without impairingintermittency. In addition, in a case where the content of the resin inthe white ink as the ink is increased, the increase in the amount ofmist at the time of discharging can prevent a contamination of thenozzle surface or strike through of the ink and the ink jet printedmatter having color developing properties can be provided.

Application Example 2

In the ink jet printing method according to Application Example 1, inthe attaching of the ink composition, the maximum mass may be 30 ng orless per one ink droplet of the discharged ink composition.

Application Example 3

In the ink jet printing method according to Application Example 1 or 2,in the printer head, the total capacity of the pressure chamber perpressure chamber and the connection portion may be 4200 μl to 6200 μl.

Application Example 4

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 1 to 3, the capacity of the pressure chamber per pressurechamber may be 3700 μl or less.

Application Example 5

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 1 to 4, the printer head may include a communicating plateprovided with a communicating hole which configures a part of theconnection portion.

Application Example 6

The ink jet printing method according to any one of Application Examples1 to 5 may further include attaching a reaction liquid including anaggregating agent for aggregating or thickening a component of the inkcomposition to the cloth.

Application Example 7

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 1 to 6, the ink composition may be a white ink compositionincluding a white pigment.

Application Example 8

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 1 to 7, the printer head may include a plurality of nozzlesdischarging the ink composition in a row, and the nozzle density in therow direction may be 200 dpi or more.

Application Example 9

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 1 to 8, the maximum ink attachment amount to the cloth may be100 mg/inch² or more.

Application Example 10

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an inkjet printing apparatus for performing printing by the ink jet printingmethod according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 9.

The invention can be realized in the following aspects or applicationexamples.

Application Example 11

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink jetprinting method including: attaching an ink composition to a cloth byusing a printer head which has a nozzle discharging the ink composition,a pressure chamber for imparting pressure to the ink composition tocause the nozzle to discharge the ink composition, and a connectionportion connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle, and in which adistance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance ofthe connection portion being from a portion of the pressure chamberwhere the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side tothe nozzle.

The ink composition includes a resin and an organic solvent.

According to the ink jet printing method of Application Example 11, bypreventing the ink from the nozzle surface from becoming dried when thepigment ink is imparted to the cloth by the ink jet method, it ispossible to provide the ink jet printed matter having excellent washingfastness of the obtained ink coated film without impairingintermittency. In addition, in a case where the non-white ink such as acolor ink is used as the ink, it is possible to provide an ink jetprinted matter having excellent washing fastness and color developingproperties without bleeding.

Application Example 12

In the ink jet printing method according to Application Example 11, theink composition may include the resin as a solid content in the amountof 3% by mass to 13% by mass with respect to the ink composition, theratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the total contentof the solid content of the resin may be 0.7 or more, and a sum of thetotal content of the solid content of the resin and the total content ofthe organic solvent may be 35% by mass or less with respect to the inkcomposition.

Application Example 13

In the ink jet printing method according to Application Example 11 or12, in the attaching of the ink composition, the maximum mass may be 30ng or less per one ink droplet of the discharged ink composition.

Application Example 14

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 11 to 13, in the printer head, the total capacity of thepressure chamber per pressure chamber and the connection portion may be4200 μl to 6200 μl.

Application Example 15

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 11 to 14, in which the capacity of the pressure chamber perpressure chamber may be 3700 μl or less.

Application Example 16

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 11 to 15, the printer head may include a communicating plateprovided with a communicating hole which configures a part of theconnection portion.

Application Example 17

The ink jet printing method according to any one of Application Examples11 to 16 may further include attaching a reaction liquid including anaggregating agent for aggregating or thickening a component of the inkcomposition to the cloth.

Application Example 18

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 11 to 17, the ink composition may be a non-white inkcomposition including a non-white pigment.

Application Example 19

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 11 to 18, the printer head may include a plurality of nozzlesdischarging the ink composition in a row, and the nozzle density in therow direction may be 200 dpi or more.

Application Example 20

In the ink jet printing method according to any one of ApplicationExamples 11 to 19, the maximum ink attachment amount to the cloth may be40 mg/inch² or less.

Application Example 21

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an inkjet printing apparatus for performing printing by the ink jet printingmethod according to any one of Application Examples 11 to 20.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an ink jetprinting apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a headaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating mainportions of the head of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the mainportions of the head used in Comparative Examples.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the first invention will be described.The embodiments described below are describing one example of theinvention. The invention is not limited to the following embodiments andincludes various modifications which are executed within the range notdeparting from the gist of the invention. In addition, the entirety ofthe configuration described below is not necessarily the essentialconfiguration of the invention.

1. Ink Jet Printing Method

The ink jet printing method according to the embodiment of the inventionincludes attaching an ink composition to a cloth by using a printer headwhich has a nozzle discharging the ink composition, a pressure chamberfor imparting pressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle todischarge the ink composition, and a connection portion connecting thepressure chamber and the nozzle, and in which a distance of theconnection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance of the connectionportion being from a portion of the pressure chamber where the ink flowsout from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle, in whichthe ink composition includes the resin as a solid content in the amountof 10% by mass to 26% by mass with respect to the ink composition, theratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the total contentof the solid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, and a sum of the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin and the total content of theorganic solvent is 37% by mass or less with respect to the inkcomposition.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the apparatus which can execute the inkjet printing method according to the embodiment and an ink compositionwill be described in order. Then, a step of the ink jet printing methodwill be described in detail.

1.1. Apparatus Configuration

The ink jet printing apparatus according to the embodiment, as describedabove, includes a printer head which has a nozzle discharging an inkcomposition, a pressure chamber for imparting pressure to the inkcomposition to cause the nozzle to discharge the ink composition, and aconnection portion connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle, andin which a distance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, thedistance of the connection portion being from a portion of the pressurechamber where the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzleside to the nozzle.

Below, an on-carriage type printer to which an ink cartridge isinstalled to a carriage is exemplified as the ink jet printing apparatusaccording to the embodiment; however, the ink jet printing apparatusaccording to the invention is not limited to the on-carriage typeprinter and may be an off-carriage type printer in which the inkcartridge is fixed outside without being installed to the carriage.

In addition, the printer described below is a serial printer, in which aprinter head is installed to the carriage moving in a predetermineddirection and a liquid droplet is discharged on a recording medium asthe head is moved by the movement of the carriage. The ink jet printingapparatus according to the invention is not limited to a serial printer,and may be a line printer, in which the head is formed larger than thewidth of the recording medium and the liquid droplet is discharged onthe recording medium without the printer head being moved.

In respective drawings described below, a scale of various members isappropriately changed in order to obtain a size in which the variousmembers can be recognized.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a printer 200,which is one example of the ink jet printing apparatus according to theembodiment. The printer 200 performs ink jet printing on a cloth P as arecording medium.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer 200 includes a printer head 100, acarriage 232 in which the printer head 100 is installed and an inkcartridge 231 is detachably mounted, a main scanning mechanism 235 whichcauses the carriage 232 to reciprocate in a medium width direction, anda platen roller 236 which transports a recording medium to a mediumtransportation direction. The printer 200 further includes a controlportion (not illustrated) which controls the entire operation of theprinter 200. Here, the medium width direction is a main scanningdirection (head scanning direction), and the medium transportationdirection is a sub-scanning direction (direction intersecting the mainscanning direction).

The main scanning mechanism 235 includes a timing belt 238 connected tothe carriage 232, a motor 239 driving the timing belt 238, and a guideshaft 240 provided in the main scanning direction, which is a supportmember. The carriage 232 is driven by the motor 239 via the timing belt238, and reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the guideshaft 240. When the carriage reciprocates, an ink is discharged from theprinter head 100 at a predetermined timing and printing is performed onthe cloth P.

A belt unit 230 has an ink jet type recording head (hereinafter, simplyreferred to as a “head” or a “printer head”) configured by the printerhead 100 described below. The belt unit 230 further includes an inkcartridge 231 supplying an ink to the printer head 100 and a carriage232 installed with the printer head 100 and the ink cartridge 231.

In the embodiment, an example, in which printing is performed while boththe printer head 100 and the cloth P are moved, is shown. However, theprinter 200 may be a mechanism in which printing is performed on thecloth P while positions of the printer head 100 and the cloth P arerelatively changed to each other.

In addition, the exemplified printer 200 has one printer head 100, andprinting is performed on the cloth P by this printer head 100. However,the printer may include a plurality of printer heads. In a case wherethe printer 200 includes a plurality of printer heads, each of theplurality of printer heads may be independently operated as describedabove and the plurality of printer heads are linked to each other toform one integrated head. As this integrated head, a line type head, inwhich each nozzle hole of the plurality of heads has an equivalentinterval in entirety, can be exemplified.

1.1.1. Printer Head

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating theprinter head 100 in the printer 200 and shows the state where the upsideof the printer head installed in the printer 200 illustrated in FIG. 1is facing down. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematicallyillustrating main portions of the printer head 100 and schematicallyshows the flow of an ink from an ink supply chamber 40 to a nozzle hole12 with a dashed line with arrows at the time of discharging operationof the ink.

A piezoelectric element 32 is simply illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Inaddition, in the embodiment, the printer head 100 is configured toinclude a communicating plate 110 and a cover 150 but they are omittedin FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer head 100 includes a nozzle plate10 having a plurality of nozzle holes 12 on the surface facing the clothP, which is a recording medium, a plurality of pressure chambers 20respectively communicating with the plurality of nozzle holes 12 formedon the nozzle plate 10, a vibrating plate 30 for changing the capacityof each of the plurality of pressure chambers 20, an ink supply chamber40 for supplying an ink to the plurality of pressure chambers 20, and ahousing 130.

The nozzle plate 10 has the plurality of nozzle holes 12 for dischargingan ink, these plurality of nozzle holes 12 are arranged in a row, and anozzle surface 13 is formed on the surface of the nozzle plate 10. Thenumber of nozzle holes 12 provided on the nozzle plate 10 is notparticularly limited. In the printer head 100 used in the embodiment,the nozzle density in a row direction of the nozzle hole 12 ispreferably 200 dpi or more. In other words, the interval between thenozzle hole 12 and the adjacent arranged nozzle hole 12 is preferably127 μm or less. As the nozzle density is set to 200 dpi or more, thetotal ink ejection quantity can be maintained and the image concealmentcan be maintained, even in a case where the liquid droplet becomesminute. The nozzle density is more preferably 240 dpi or more and stillmore preferably 250 dpi or more, and more preferably 300 dpi or more,still more preferably 400 dpi or more, and most preferably 500 dpi ormore. The upper limit of the nozzle density is preferably 2000 dpi orless and more preferably 1000 dpi or less.

Examples of the material of the nozzle plate 10 include silicon,stainless steel (SUS), and the like. In addition, if the material of thenozzle plate 10 is an alloy including iron (Fe) as a main component (50%or more) and chromium (Cr) in the amount of 10.5% or more, it ispossible to obtain rigidity and prevent rust at the same time, which ismore preferable. The thickness of the nozzle plate 10 is notparticularly limited, and for example, the thickness thereof ispreferably 50 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm or less, and still morepreferably 1 μm to 10 μm.

The printer head 100 includes a pressure chamber substrate 120 forforming a pressure chamber 20 and examples of the material of thepressure chamber substrate 120 include silicon and the like. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the pressure chamber substrate 120 includes acommunicating plate 110 as a channel forming substrate between thenozzle plate 10 and the pressure chamber substrate. As the communicatingplate 110 divides a space between the nozzle plate 10 and the pressurechamber substrate 120, the ink supply chamber 40 (liquid storageportion), a supply port 126 communicating with the ink supply chamber40, and the pressure chamber 20 communicating with the supply port 126are formed. In other words, the ink supply chamber 40, the supply port126 and the pressure chamber 20 are divided by the nozzle plate 10, thecommunicating plate 110, the pressure chamber substrate 120, and thevibrating plate 30.

The communicating plate 110 has a communicating hole 127 communicatingwith the nozzle hole 12 from the pressure chamber 20. A discharge port128 of the ink is formed on the end portion of the communicating hole127 formed on the surface where the communicating plate 110 is incontact with the nozzle plate 10. The discharge port 128 communicateswith the nozzle hole 12 formed on the nozzle plate 10.

The vibrating plate 30 is provided to be in contact with the pressurechamber substrate 120 and the piezoelectric element 32 is formed to bein contact with the vibrating plate 30. The piezoelectric element 32 iselectrically connected to a piezoelectric element driving circuit (notillustrated) and can be operated (vibrated or deformed) based on asignal of the piezoelectric element driving circuit. The vibrating plate30 is deformed by the operation of the piezoelectric element 32 andinternal pressure of the pressure chamber 20 can be changed by changingthe capacity of the pressure chamber 20. The piezoelectric element 32 isnot particularly limited and a type of the element (electromechanicaltransducer), which is deformed by the application of a voltage, can beexemplified. As such, in the embodiment, a piezoelectric actuator 34 isconfigured to include the piezoelectric element 32 and the vibratingplate 30.

In this example, the pressure chamber 20 is divided by the communicatingplate 110, the pressure chamber substrate 120 and the vibrating plate30, but the pressure chamber 20 can be formed by an appropriate memberas long as the capacity can be changed by the vibration of the vibratingplate 30. Thus, the number, shape, and material of the member areoptional. In addition, the vibrating plate 30 may be integral with anelectrode (for example, formed of Pt, or the like) configuring thepiezoelectric element 32.

Since the interval between the nozzle holes 12 is 127 μm or less, theprinter head 100 of the embodiment preferably has a configurationincluding the piezoelectric element 32, in which a piezoelectricmaterial is arranged between two electrodes. In other words, forexample, an aspect of the piezoelectric actuator 34 is preferably a thinfilm, in which one electrode, a layer of the piezoelectric material (forexample, lead zirconate titanate (PZT)), and the other electrode arelaminated in order with respect to the vibrating plate 30, in entirety.

The material of the vibrating plate 30 is not particularly limited andexamples thereof include silicon oxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiN),silicon oxynitride (SiON), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), titanium oxide(TiO₂), silicon carbide (SiC), and a laminate of the layer formed ofthese materials. The material of the vibrating plate 30 having a Young'smodulus of 250 GPa or less is more preferable, from a viewpoint of beingable to cause a large displacement and hardly cause damage. For example,the material is preferably formed by including ZrO₂ (150 GPa), SiO₂ (75GPa), Si (130 GPa), SUS (199 GPa), and Cr (248 GPa) (the value insidethe parenthesis is Young's modulus). In addition, in a case where theelectrode of the piezoelectric element 32 is formed of Pt and laminatedintegrally with the vibrating plate 30, since the Young's modulus of Ptis 168 GPa and ZrO₂ is 150 GPa, even if they are combined, the total is250 GPa or less. Thus, the above configuration may be allowed.

In the specification, Young's modulus indicates Young's modulus measuredin a static test (JIS G0567J, or the like) (mechanical test), and forexample, is measured by using a No. II-6 specimen.

Further, the printer head 100 includes a compliance sheet 140 as amember for forming a part of the ink channel and a cover 150accommodating the piezoelectric element 32. A supply port 126communicating with the ink supply chamber is formed between thecompliance sheet 140 and the communicating plate 110. In addition, thecompliance sheet 140 is a flexible and elastic film, and has a functionas a damper for discharging or circulating an ink, and a function ofsuppressing damage of the printer head 100 by deformation, in a casewhere the volume of the ink is increased.

The compliance sheet 140 is not particularly limited as long as thesheet is a film having elasticity and for example, a polymer film, athin metal film, a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, or the like are used.The material of the polymer film is not particularly limited andexamples thereof include polyimide, nylon, polyolefin, and polyphenylenesulfite. It is preferable to form the compliance sheet withpolyphenylene sulfite. In addition, examples of the metal include amaterial including iron or aluminium.

The thickness of the compliance sheet 140 is not particularly limitedand for example, is preferably 50 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm orless, and still more preferably 1 μm to 10 μm. If the compliance sheet140 is too thin, vibration at the time of discharging the ink becomessevere and residual vibration may frequently occur.

In the embodiment, the ink supply chamber 40, the supply port 126, thepressure chamber 20 and the communicating hole 127 are describedseparately, but these are all liquid channels. As long as the pressurechamber 20 is formed, the channels may be designed in any way. Forexample, the supply port 126 has a shape in which a part of the channelis narrowed in the illustrated example, but the expansion andcontraction of the channels can be optional according to the design,which are not entirely essential in the configuration.

The pressure chamber 20 formed by the aforementioned configuration is aspace divided by the communicating plate 110, the pressure chambersubstrate 120, and the vibrating plate 30, and refers to a space notincluding the supply port 126, the communicating hole 127, the dischargeport 128, and the nozzle hole 12. That is, a space facing a portion forimparting pressure to the ink of the vibrating plate 30, the pressurechamber substrate 120, and the communicating plate 110, and a space (aportion where deformation or heat is generated in the wall of thepressure chamber 20) which is adjacent to this space and in which thecross-sectional area of the cross section facing the ink flowingdirection is equal to that of this space is determined as the pressurechamber 20, and the capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is the capacityof this space. As described above, the pressure chamber 20 is a space ofwhich the capacity is changed by displacement of the vibrating plate 30and is defined as a space not including narrow channels or the likecommunicating with the space.

As described above, the pressure chamber 20 and the nozzle hole 12 arecommunicated with each other by the communicating hole 127. In theinvention, a portion from the portion where the ink flows out from thepressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle, in other words, inthe example of FIG. 3, the communicating hole 127, the nozzle hole 12,and the entire portion connecting these are defined as a connectionportion 132. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 3, since the connectionportion 132 is provided so as to penetrate the communicating plate 110in parallel in the thickness direction, the distance of the connectionportion 132 is equal to the sum of the length d1 of the communicatingplate 110 in the thickness direction and the length d2 of the nozzleplate 10 in the thickness direction.

In this embodiment, the sum of the length d1 of the communicating plate110 in the thickness direction and the length d2 of the nozzle plate 10in the thickness direction, in other words, d1+d2 is 500 μm or more. Assuch, since the connection portion 132 is configured to have a longdistance, it is possible to prevent the ink from becoming dried from thenozzle surface 13. By doing this, even in a case where the content ofthe resin in the ink is increased in order to increase washing fastnessof the ink coated film, intermittency is not impaired. Also, even in acase where the content of the resin in a white ink as the ink isincreased, a contamination of the nozzle surface 13 or strike through ofthe ink caused by an increase in a mist at the time of discharging canbe prevented and the ink jet printed matter having excellent colordeveloping properties can be provided.

In the example of FIG. 3, the nozzle plate 10 and the communicatingplate 110 are laminated and the nozzle hole 12 and the communicatinghole 127 are formed of a different member; however, the nozzle plate andthe communicating plate may be formed of a single member. Even in a casewhere the nozzle plate and the communicating plate are formed of asingle member, the connection portion 132 refers to a portion from theportion where the ink flows out from the pressure chamber to the nozzleside to the nozzle. Even in this case, since the distance of theconnection portion is 500 μm or more, it is possible to prevent the inkfrom becoming dried from the nozzle surface.

The distance of the connection portion 132 is preferably 500 μm to 3000μm, more preferably 700 μm to 2500 μm, and still more preferably 900 μmto 1500 μm. Even in a case where the communicating hole is obliquelyelongated with respect to the nozzle plate 10, the length of thecommunicating hole is the length along the communicating hole. In thiscase, the length of the communicating hole becomes longer than thelength d1 of the communicating plate 110 in the thickness direction.That is, the shortest distance from a boundary between the pressurechamber 20 and the communicating hole to the nozzle hole 12 through thecommunicating hole is determined as the length of the communicatinghole, and the distance of the connection portion is the distance inwhich the length of the nozzle hole 12 and the entire portion connectingthese is added to the length of the communicating hole.

The total capacity of a pressure chamber per pressure chamber and theconnection portion, in other words, in the embodiment, the totalcapacity of the pressure chamber 20, the communicating hole 127, and thenozzle hole 12 is preferably 4200 μl to 6200 μl and more preferably 4500μl to 5500 μl. In this case, it is possible to prevent the ink frombecoming dried from the nozzle surface 13.

In this case, the capacity per one pressure chamber 20 is preferably3700 μl or less and more preferably 3500 μl or less. The capacity isstill more preferably 3300 μl or less and particularly preferably 3000μl or less. The lower limit of the capacity per one pressure chamber 20is preferably 1500 μl or more and more preferably 2000 μl or more. Sincethe capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is 3700 μl or less, it ispossible to secure the capacity of the communicating hole 127sufficiently. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the ink frombecoming dried from the nozzle surface 13.

The ink supply chamber 40 can temporarily store the ink supplied fromthe outside (for example, an ink cartridge) via a through hole 129provided in the vibrating plate 30. The ink in the ink supply chamber 40can be supplied to the pressure chamber 20 via the supply port 126. Thecapacity of the pressure chamber 20 can be changed by deformation of thevibrating plate 30. The pressure chamber communicates with the nozzlehole 12 via the communicating hole 127, and as the capacity of thepressure chamber 20 is changed, the ink is discharged from the nozzlehole 12 or the ink is introduced from the ink supply chamber 40 to thepressure chamber 20. Here, the nozzle size of the nozzle hole 12 ispreferably 5 μm to 100 μm, more preferably 10 μm to 60 μm, and stillmore preferably 10 μm to 40 μm, from a viewpoint of obtaining excellentimage quality, intermittency, or reducing the mist.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 130 can accommodate the nozzleplate 10, the pressure chamber substrate 120 and the piezoelectricelement 32. As a material of the housing 130, a resin, a metal, or thelike can be exemplified. The housing 130 may have a function to separatethe piezoelectric element 32 from the outside environment. Also, aninert gas may be sealed in the housing 130 or pressure within thehousing 130 may be reduced. By doing this, it is possible to suppressdeterioration of the piezoelectric material.

The cover 150 is configured as a member separate from the housing 130.The cover 150 is provided so as to be in contact with the vibratingplate 30, forms a space for accommodating the piezoelectric element 32,and accommodates the piezoelectric element 32 in this space. A materialof the cover 150 is the same as the aforementioned material of thehousing 130. The aforementioned housing 130 is a cover covering thepiezoelectric element 32, but the cover 150 has a function of separatingthe piezoelectric element 32 from the outside environment. An inert gasmay be sealed in the space formed by the cover 150 or pressure of thespace may be reduced. By doing this, it is possible to suppressdeterioration of the piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric element32. In this case, the housing 130 may have a function as a support ofthe printer head 100.

In a case where the printer head 100 of the embodiment exemplified aboveis installed in the printer 200, the nozzle plate 10 is disposed towardthe cloth P, so that the nozzle plate 10 becomes in direct contact withthe air (outside air). Also, since the printer head 100 of theembodiment has the housing 130 and the cover 150, the piezoelectricelement 32 and the vibrating plate 30 are configured not to be incontact with the outside air substantially.

Here, the ink jet printing apparatus of the embodiment performs an inkjet printing method by using an ink composition described below.

1.2. Ink Composition

The ink composition used in the ink jet printing method according to theembodiment of the invention includes a resin as a solid content in theamount of 10% by mass to 26% by mass with respect to the inkcomposition, the ratio of the total content of the organic solvent tothe total content of the solid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, anda sum of the total content of the solid content of the resin and thetotal content of the organic solvent is 37% by mass or less with respectto the ink composition.

Hereinafter, a component included in the ink composition (hereinafter,also simply referred to as an “ink”) used for the ink jet printingmethod according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

1.2.1. Pigment

The ink used for the ink jet printing method according to the embodimentincludes a pigment. As the pigment, either an organic pigment or aninorganic pigment can be used and a pigment in any color can be used.

For example, a white color-based pigment is not limited to the followingand examples thereof include a white inorganic pigment such as titaniumoxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, and zirconium oxide. Awhite organic pigment such as white hollow resin particles and polymerparticles can be used, in addition to the white inorganic pigment.

A color index (C.I.) of the white color-based pigment is not limited tothe following and examples thereof include C.I. pigment white 1 (basiclead carbonate), 4 (zinc oxide), 5 (a mixture of zinc sulfide and bariumsulfate), 6 (titanium oxide), 6:1 (titanium oxide including other metaloxides), 7 (zinc sulfide), 18 (calcium carbonate), 19 (clay), (micatitanium), 21 (barium sulfate), 22 (natural barium sulfate), 23 (glosswhite), 24 (alumina white), 25 (plaster), (magnesium oxide.siliconoxide), 27 (silica), and 28 (anhydrous calcium silicate). Among these,titanium oxide is preferable since color developing properties,concealment, and visibility (brightness) are excellent and asatisfactory dispersed particle diameter is obtained.

Among the aforementioned titanium oxide, a general rutile type titaniumoxide is preferable as the white color-based pigment. This rutile typetitanium oxide may be manufactured by oneself or may be the onecommercially available. As an industrial manufacturing method in a casewhere the rutile type titanium oxide (powder form) is manufactured byoneself, the well-known sulfuric acid method and a chlorine method canbe exemplified. Examples of the rutile type titanium oxide includerutile types such as Tipaque (registered trade mark) CR-60-2, CR-67,R-980, R-780, R-850, R-980, R-630, R-670, and PF-736 (the above aremanufacture by ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA, LTD., trade name).

The ink used in the embodiment may include a pigment other than thewhite color-based pigment. The pigment other than the white color-basedpigment refers to a pigment excluding the aforementioned whitecolor-based pigment. The pigment other than the white color-basedpigment is not particularly limited below and for example, an organicpigment such as an azo-based pigment, a phthalocyanine-based pigment, adye-based pigment, a condensed polycyclic pigment, a nitro-basedpigment, and a nitroso-based pigment (brilliant carmine 6B, lake red C,watching red, disazo yellow, hansa yellow, phthalocyanine blue,phthalocyanine green, alkali blue, and aniline black); metals such ascobalt, iron, chromium, copper, zinc, lead, titanium, vanadium,manganese, and nickel, and metal oxides and sulfides; carbon blacks(C.I. pigment black 7) such as furnace carbon black, lamp black,acetylene black, and channel black; and an inorganic pigment such asyellow soil, ultramarine blue, and iron blue can be used.

Further specifically, examples of the carbon black which can be used asa black-based pigment include MCF88, No. 2300, 2200B, 900, 33, 40, 45,52, MA7, 8, 100 (the above are manufactured by Mitsubishi ChemicalCorporation, trade name), Raven 5750, 5250, 5000, 3500, 1255, 700 (theabove are manufactured by Columbia Carbon Co., Ltd., trade name), Regal400R, 330R, 660R, Mogul L, Monarch 700, 800, 880, 900, 1000, 1100, 1300,1400 (the above are manufactured by Cabot Corporation, trade name),Color Black FW1, FW2, FW2V, FW18, FW200, 5150, 5160, 5170, Printex 35,U, V, 140U, Special Black 6, 5, 4A, and 4 (the above are manufactured byDegussa AG, trade name).

Examples of the yellow-based pigment include C.I. pigment yellow 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, 34, 35, 37, 53, 55, 65,73, 74, 75, 81, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114,117, 120, 124, 128, 129, 133, 138, 139, 147, 151, 153, 154, 167, 172,and 180.

Examples of the magenta-based pigment include C.I. pigment red 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30,31, 32, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48 (Ca), 48 (Mn), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 88, 112,114, 122, 123, 144, 146, 149, 150, 166, 168, 170, 171, 175, 176, 177,178, 179, 184, 185, 187, 202, 209, 219, 224, 245, C.I. pigment violet19, 23, 32, 33, 36, 38, 43, and 50.

Examples of the cyan-based pigment include C.I. pigment blue 1, 2, 3,15, 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:34, 15:4, 16, 18, 22, 25, 60, 65, and 66.

Examples of the pigment other than magenta, cyan, and yellow includeC.I. pigment green 7, 10, C.I. pigment brown 3, 5, 25, 26, C.I. pigmentorange 1, 2, 5, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 43, and 63.

The aforementioned pigment may be used alone or two or more may be usedin combination.

The content of the pigment included in the ink used in the embodiment isdifferent depending on the type of the pigment to be used. The contentof the pigment is preferably 1% by mass to 30% by mass, more preferably1% by mass to 15% by mass, and still more preferably 5% by mass to 13%by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink, from a viewpoint ofsecuring satisfactory color developing properties. Among these, in acase where titanium oxide is used as the pigment included in the ink,since titanium oxide is hardly precipitated and is excellent forexhibiting concealment and color reproductivity, in particular, on acloth having low brightness, the content of titanium oxide is preferably3% by mass to 25% by mass and more preferably 5% by mass to 20% by masswith respect to the total mass of the ink. Further, the content oftitanium oxide is preferably 7% by mass to 15% by mass and morepreferably 12% by mass or less.

The pigment may be a pigment which has been the surface treated or apigment in which a dispersant is used, from a viewpoint of increasingdispersibility in the ink.

The pigment which has been surface treated refers to a pigment, in whicha hydrophilic group such as a carboxyl group and a sulfonate group isdirectly or indirectly bonded to the pigment surface by physicaltreatment or chemical treatment so as to enable dispersion in an aqueoussolvent (hereinafter, referred to as a “self-dispersion type pigment”).

The pigment in which a dispersant is used refers to a pigment in which apigment is dispersed by a surfactant or a resin (hereinafter, referredto as a “polymer-dispersion type pigment”), and any well-known materialcan be used as the surfactant or the resin. In addition, a pigmentcoated with a resin is included in the polymer-dispersion type pigment.The pigment coated with a resin can be obtained by an acid analysismethod, inversion emulsification method, or mini-emulsion polymerizationmethod.

1.2.2. Resin

The ink used in the embodiment includes a resin. Since adhesion of theink to a cloth is enhanced by including the resin, abrasion resistanceof the image to be recorded can be enhanced.

The ink used in the embodiment can be appropriately used for recordingof a cloth. Here, since the cloth has properties of being easilystretched, the image to be recorded, in other words, the ink film formedby the ink is preferably a film which is easily stretched (elongated).That is, since the ink film has elasticity in which the ink film can bestretched according to the stretching of the cloth, a fracture, crackingof the ink film can be prevented and washing.rubbing fastness can besecured. From this viewpoint, the film elasticity of the resin includedin the ink according to the embodiment is preferably 400% to 1200%, morepreferably 500% to 1200%, still more preferably 600% to 1200%, andparticularly preferably 700% to 1200%. Since the film elasticity of theresin is within the aforementioned range, in particular, is notdecreased below the lower limit, an image having excellent followabilitywith respect to the stretching of the cloth can be formed. In addition,since the film elasticity of the resin is within the aforementionedrange, in particular, does not exceed the upper limit, viscosity of theink film can be maintained within the appropriate range and decrease ofthe anchor effect with respect to the cloth can be suppressed. Thus, itis possible to form an image having satisfactory washing.rubbingfastness (abrasion resistance), while the decrease in fixability issuppressed.

The film elasticity of the resin is measured as follows. First, theresin is applied to a polytetrafluoroethylene sheet such that the filmthickness after drying is 500 μm, and the resin is dried at roomtemperature (20° C.).normal pressure (65% RH) for 15 hours and furtherdried at a temperature of 80° C. for 6 hours and at a temperature of120° C. for 20 minutes. After that, a resin film is created by peelingthe resin off the sheet. Then, the film elasticity of the obtained resinfilm is measured by using a tensile strength tester under a condition ofa measuring temperature of 20° C. and a measuring speed of 200 mm/min.The measurement of the film elasticity is performed such that the resinfilm is elongated until the resin film is fractured to measure theelongated length and a ratio thereof is shown in percentage as the filmelasticity. In addition, as the tensile strength tester, for example, auniversal testing instrument RTC-1225A (trade name, manufactured byORIENTEC Co., LTD.) or an instrument same as this can be used.

In addition, a glass transition point (Tg) of the resin is preferably 0°C. or less and more preferably −10° C. or less from a viewpoint ofpreventing a fracture or cracking of the ink film and securingwashing.rubbing fastness. Also, the lower limit of the glass transitionpoint (Tg) is preferably −80° C. or more. In addition, a minimum filmforming temperature (MFT) of the resin included in a first ink ispreferably 0° C. or less and more preferably −10° C. or less from aviewpoint of preventing a fracture or cracking of the ink film andsecuring washing.rubbing fastness. Also, the lower limit of the minimumfilm forming temperature is preferably −80° C. or more.

The resin is preferably an emulsion from a viewpoint of enhancingabrasion resistance of the film, adhesion, and storage stability of theink. The resin included in the ink according to the embodiment may be aself-emulsifying type in which a hydrophilic component necessary forstably dispersing the resin in water is introduced, or water-dispersibleby the use of an emulsifier from outside. However, the resin ispreferably a self-emulsifying type dispersant (self-emulsifying typeemulsion) not including an emulsifier form a viewpoint of not inhibitinga reaction with a polyvalent metal compound included in the pretreatmentagent described below.

As the resin, for example, an acrylic resin, a styrene acrylic resin, afluorene-based resin, an urethane-based resin, a polyolefin-based resin,a rosin modified resin, a terpene-based resin, a polyester-based resin,a polyamide-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, a vinyl chloride-basedresin, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and an ethylenevinylacetate-based resin can be used. These resins may be used alone or twoor more may be used in combination. Among these, at least one selectedfrom the urethane-based resin and acrylic resin is preferable and theurethane-based resin is more preferably used, from a viewpoint ofincreasing freedom in designing so as to easily obtain desired filmproperties (aforementioned film elasticity).

The urethane-based resin is not particularly limited as long as theresin has a urethane structure and water dispersibility. For example, acommercially available product such as Super Flex 460, 460s, 840 (tradename, manufactured by DKS Co. Ltd.), Resamine D-1060, D-2020, D-4080,D-4200, D-6300, D-6455 (trade name, manufactured by DainichiseikaColor&Chemicals Mfg.Co., Ltd.), Takelac WS-6021, W-512-A-6 (trade name,manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals Polyurethanes, Inc.), and Sancure 2710(trade name, manufactured by LUBRIZOL CORPORATION) may be used.

In addition, the urethane-based resin is preferably an anionicurethane-based resin having an anionic functional group such as acarboxy group, a sulfo group, and a hydroxy group, from a viewpoint ofstorage stability of the ink or enhancing reactivity with the polyvalentmetal compound in a case where the polyvalent metal compound is includedin the pretreatment agent described below. Among the aforementionedcommercially available products, as the anionic urethane-based resin,Super Flex 460, 460s, and 840 manufactured by DKS Co. Ltd.; and TakelacWS-6021 and W-512-A-6 manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals PolyurethanesInc. can be exemplified.

In addition, as the urethane-based resin, in addition to urethane bond,a polyether type urethane resin including ether bond on a main chain, apolyester type urethane resin including ester bond on a main chain, anda polycarbonate type urethane resin including carbonate bond on a mainchain can be used. A plurality of these urethane resins may be combinedto be used.

As the acrylic resin, a polymer of an acrylic monomer such as an acrylicacid and acrylic ester, and a copolymer of the acrylic monomer and othermonomers can be used. Examples of the other monomers include avinyl-based monomer such as styrene. As the acrylic resin, acommercially available product may be used, and Mowinyl 702, 7502, 7525,and 7320 (manufactured by The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co.,Ltd.) can be exemplified.

The content of the resin is 10% by mass to 26% by mass, preferably 13%by mass to 23% by mass, and more preferably 17% by mass to 21% by masswith respect to the total mass of the ink in terms of a solid content.Since the content of the resin in the ink is within the aforementionedrange, in particular, is not decreased below the lower limit, an effectin which the resin enhances fixability of the ink can be sufficientlyexhibited. Thus, abrasion resistance of the image to be recorded isenhanced and washing fastness of the obtained ink coated film isenhanced. Also, since the content of the resin in the ink does notexceed the upper limit, generation of the aggregates caused by the resincan be suppressed. Thus, storage stability or discharge stability of theink becomes excellent.

The ratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, preferably 0.4to 3, and more preferably 0.5 to 2.7, and the upper limit is morepreferably 2.5 or less and still more preferably 2 or less, from aviewpoint of securing washing fastness of the obtained ink coated film.Further, the upper limit is preferably 1.5 or less, more preferably 1.2or less, and still more preferably 0.8 or less. Furthermore, a sum ofthe total content of the solid content of the resin and the totalcontent of the organic solvent are 37% by mass or less, preferably 15%by mass to 35% by mass, and more preferably 18% by mass to 33% by masswith respect to the ink composition, from a viewpoint of securingwashing fastness of the obtained ink coated film. Also, the lower limitis more preferably 22% by mass or more, still more preferably 27% bymass or more, and most preferably 30% by mass or more.

1.2.3. Aggregating Agent

In a case where an image is recorded on a non-white cloth, recording isperformed by using a white ink including a white color-based pigmentsuch as titanium oxide in order to render visibility of the image on thenon-white cloth satisfactory. However, in the non-white cloth, there isa tendency that color developing properties of the ink in a case wherethe ink is filtrated into the cloth or concealment of the cloth aregreatly decreased, and color developing properties of the image to berecorded and concealment of the cloth become insufficient. Thus, it ispreferable to use a reaction liquid including an aggregating agent foraggregating or thickening the ink component, from a viewpoint ofincreasing color developing properties of the image obtained by the inkused for forming an image on the non-white cloth and increasingconcealment of the cloth.

As the aggregating agent, for example, a polyvalent metal compound suchas calcium chloride can be used. As the aggregating agent reacts with acomponent such as a resin or a pigment included in the ink to formaggregates by the component of the ink, it is possible to increase colordeveloping properties of the image to be recorded and concealment of thecloth.

1.2.4. Other Components

The ink used in the embodiment may include water, an organic solvent, asurfactant, a pH adjuster, a preservative.fungicide, or the like.

Water

Water is a major medium of the ink and is a component which evaporatesand scatters by drying. Examples of the water include pure water such asion exchanged water, ultrafiltrated water, reverse osmotic water, anddistilled water, and water from which ionic impurities are completelyremoved such as ultrapure water. Also, if water sterilized byirradiation with ultraviolet rays or addition of hydrogen peroxide isused, it is possible to prevent generation of fungi or bacteria in acase where the ink is stored for a long period of time. The content ofwater included in the ink is not particularly limited, and for example,the content of water may be 50% by mass or more and further may be 50%by mass to 95% by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink.

Organic Solvent

Examples of the organic solvent include 1,2-alkanediols, polyalcohols,and glycol ethers. These may be used alone or two or more may be used incombination. The content of the organic solvent is preferably 7% by massto 27% by mass, more preferably 9% by mass to 25% by mass, still morepreferably 10% by mass to 20% by mass, and particularly preferably 11%by mass to 15% by mass, with respect to the total mass of the ink.

Examples of the 1,2-alkanediols include 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol,1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and 1,2-octanediol. Since the1,2-alkanediols has an excellent effect of causing the recording mediumto wet uniformly by increasing wettability of the ink with respect tothe recording medium such as a cloth, an image having less bleeding canbe recorded. In a case where the 1,2-alkanediols are included, thecontent thereof may be 1% by mass to 20% by mass with respect to thetotal mass of the ink.

Examples of the polyalcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol,triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol,1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 1,4-butanediol,1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2,3-butanediol,3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol,2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol,2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, trimethylolpropane, and glycerin. Thepolyalcohols may be preferably used from a viewpoint of reducingclogging or discharge failure by suppressing the ink from drying andsolidifying in the nozzle surface of the head. In a case where thepolyalcohols are included, the content thereof may be 2% by mass to 20%by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink.

Examples of the glycol ethers include alkylene glycol monoether andalkylene glycol diether.

Examples of the alkylene glycol monoether include ethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycolmonoisopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycolmonohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, diethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycolmonobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, triethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycolmonobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetraethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, anddipropylene glycol monoethyl ether.

Examples of the alkylene glycol diether include ethylene glycol dimethylether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether,diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether,diethylene glycol ethylmethyl ether, diethylene glycol dibutyl ether,triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol diethyl ether,triethylene glycol dibutyl ether, triethylene glycol butylmethyl ether,tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol diethyl ether,tetraethylene glycol dibutyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether,propylene glycol diethyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether,dipropylene glycol diethyl ether.

Since the glycol ethers can control wettability of the ink with respectto the recording medium or a filtration rate, a clear image can berecorded. In a case where the glycol ethers are included, the contentthereof may be 0.05% by mass to 6% by mass with respect to the totalmass of the ink.

Surfactant

The surfactant has a function of increasing wettability with respect tothe recording medium by decreasing the surface tension. Among thesurfactant, for example, an acetylene glycol-based surfactant, asilicone-based surfactant, and a fluorine-based surfactant may bepreferably used.

The acetylene glycol-based surfactant is not particularly limited, andthe examples thereof include Surfynol 104, 104E, 104H, 104A, 104BC,104DPM, 104PA, 104PG-50, 104S, 420, 440, 465, 485, SE, SE-F, 504, 61,DF37, CT111, CT121, CT131, CT136, TG, GA, DF110D (trade name, all of theabove are manufactured by Air Products and Chemicals. Inc.), Olfine B,Y, P, A, STG, SPC, E1004, E1010, PD-001, PD-002W, PD-003, PD-004,EXP.4001, EXP.4036, EXP.4051, AF-103, AF-104, AK-02, SK-14, AE-3 (tradename, all of the above are manufactured by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd.),ACETYLENOL E00, E00P, E40, and E100 (trade name, all of the above aremanufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.).

The silicone-based surfactant is not particularly limited, and apolysiloxane-based compound can be preferably exemplified. Thepolysiloxane-based compound is not particularly limited and examplesthereof include polyether modified organosiloxanes. Examples of thecommercially available products of polyether modified organosiloxanesinclude BYK-306, BYK-307, BYK-333, BYK-341, BYK-345, BYK-346, BYK-348(trade name, all of the above are manufactured by BYK JAPAN K.K.),KF-351A, KF-352A, KF-353, KF-354L, KF-355A, KF-615A, KF-945, KF-640,KF-642, KF-643, KF-6020, X-22-4515, KF-6011, KF-6012, KF-6015, andKF-6017 (trade name, all of the above are manufactured by Shin-EtsuChemical Co., Ltd.).

As the fluorine-based surfactant, a fluorine modified polymer ispreferably used, and the specific example thereof is BYK-340(manufactured by BYK Japan K.K.). pH adjuster

Examples of the pH adjuster include potassium dihydrogenphosphate,disodium hydrogenphosphate, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide,potassium hydroxide, ammonia, diethanolamine, triethanolamine,triisopropanolamine, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodiumhydrogen carbonate.

Preservative.Fungicide

Examples of the preservative.fungicide include sodium benzoate, sodiumpentachlorophenol, 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide sodium, sodium sorbate,sodium dehydroacetate, and 1,2-dibenzine thiazoline-3-one (Proxel CRL,Proxel BND, Proxel GXL, Proxel XL-2, and Proxel TN of ICI).

1.2.5. Method for Manufacturing an Ink Composition

The ink used in the embodiment can be obtained by mixing theaforementioned components in an arbitrary order and removing impuritiesby means of filtration, if necessary. As a mixing method of eachcomponent, a method is appropriately used, in which the material isadded to a container including a stirring apparatus such as a mechanicalstirrer and a magnetic stirrer in an order to stir and mix the material.As a filtration method, centrifugal filtration or filter filtration canbe performed, as necessary.

1.2.6. Physical Properties of Ink Composition

With regard to the surface tension of the ink used in the embodiment,the surface tension at a temperature of 20° C. is preferably 20 mN/m to40 mN/m and more preferably 25 mN/m to 35 mN/m from a viewpoint of thebalance between an image quality and reliability as the ink for ink jet.Also, the surface tension can be measured by confirming a surfacetension when a platinum plate is wetted by the ink in an environment of20° C., for example, using an automatic surface tensiometer CBVP-Z(trade name, manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd).

In addition, from the same viewpoint, the viscosity of the ink accordingto the embodiment at a temperature of 20° C. is preferably 3 mPa·s to 10mPa·s and more preferably 3 mPa·s to 8 mPa·s. Also, the viscosity can bemeasured in an environment of 20° C., for example, using viscoelastictesting machine MCR-300 (trade name, manufactured by Pysica).

Next, an ink attachment step and a reaction liquid attachment step inthe ink jet printing method according to the embodiment will bedescribed.

1.3. Ink Attachment Step

As described above, the ink attachment step according to the embodimentis a step for attaching the ink composition to the cloth, by using anozzle discharging an ink composition; a pressure chamber for impartingpressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle to discharge the inkcomposition; and a printer head, in which a distance of the connectionportion is 500 μm or more, the distance of the connection portion beingfrom a portion of the pressure chamber where the ink flows out from apressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle.

The cloth where the ink composition is attached is not particularlylimited and examples thereof include natural fiber such as silk, cotton,and wool; a woven fabric, a knitted item; and a non-woven fabric usingsynthetic fiber including nylon, polyester, polypropylene and rayon as araw material.

In an ink discharge step, the maximum mass per one ink droplet of theink discharging is preferably 30 ng or less. Here, the ink amount of onedischarged droplet is not the total number of ejections, but a massdischarged for one time (one ejection). In the ink attachment stepaccording to the embodiment, since the maximum mass per one ink dropletof the ink discharging is 30 ng or less, the ink droplet becomes fineand strike through of the cloth can be suppressed. The maximum mass perone ink droplet is preferably 25 ng or less, more preferably 20 ng orless, still more preferably 15 ng or less, and most preferably 10 ng orless. The lower limit of the maximum mass per one ink droplet ispreferably 1 ng or more, more preferably 3 ng or more, and still morepreferably 5 ng or more.

In addition, in the ink attachment step, the maximum ink attachmentamount to the cloth is preferably 100 mg/inch² or more. Since the inkattachment amount is 100 mg/inch² or more, it is possible to secureconcealment of the image. The maximum ink attachment amount to the clothis more preferably 150 mg/inch² or more and still more preferably 180mg/inch² or more. In addition, the upper limit of the maximum inkattachment amount to the cloth is preferably 300 mg/inch² or less, morepreferably 250 mg/inch² or more, and still more preferably 200 mg/inch²or more.

In addition, as described above, by using the printer head, in which adistance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance ofthe connection portion being from a portion of the pressure chamberwhere the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side tothe nozzle, even in a case where the solid content of the resin isincreased, the ink can be prevented from becoming dried from the nozzlesurface and the ink jet printing method having excellent intermittencycan be achieved. Also, the ink jet printed matter having excellentwashing fastness can be obtained.

1.4. Reaction Liquid Attachment Step

The ink jet printing method according to the embodiment preferablyincludes a reaction liquid attachment step for attaching a reactionliquid which includes the aggregating agent for aggregating orthickening the component of the ink composition to the cloth before orafter the ink attachment step. As described above, in a case where inkjet printing is performed on a non-white cloth using a white inkincluding a white color-based pigment, it is preferable to attach thereaction liquid which includes the aggregating agent for aggregating orthickening the ink component to the cloth, from a viewpoint ofincreasing color developing properties of the obtained image orconcealment of the cloth.

For example, in a case where the reaction liquid attachment step isincluded before the ink attachment step, if the reaction liquid whichincludes the aggregating agent is attached to the area of the clothwhere an image is formed by the ink being attached, the aggregatingagent included in the reaction liquid and the resin or the pigmentincluded in the ink react to each other when the ink is attached in theink attachment step, and these components included in the ink may beaggregated as aggregates. Due to the above, color developing propertiesof the image formed in the ink attachment step are enhanced and thecloth can be concealed satisfactorily.

In addition, the reaction liquid attachment step can be included afterthe ink attachment step. In this case, by attaching the reaction liquidbefore the ink attached in the ink attachment step is dried, the resinor the pigment included in the ink may be aggregated as aggregates bythe aggregating agent. Due to the above, color developing properties ofthe image formed in the ink attachment step are enhanced and the clothcan be concealed satisfactorily.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the second invention will be described.The embodiments described below are describing one example of theinvention. The invention is not limited to the following embodiments andincludes various modifications which are executed within the range notdeparting the gist of the invention. In addition, the entirety of theconfiguration described below is not necessarily the essentialconfiguration of the invention.

2. Ink Jet Printing Method

The ink jet printing method according to the embodiment of the inventionincludes attaching an ink composition to a cloth by using a printer headwhich has a nozzle discharging the ink composition, a pressure chamberfor imparting pressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle todischarge the ink composition, and a connection portion connecting thepressure chamber and the nozzle, and in which a distance of theconnection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance of the connectionportion being from a portion of the pressure chamber where the ink flowsout from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle, in whichthe ink composition includes a resin and an organic solvent.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the apparatus which can execute the inkjet printing method according to the embodiment and an ink compositionwill be described in order. Then, a step of the ink jet printing methodwill be described in detail.

2.1. Apparatus Configuration

The ink jet printing apparatus according to the embodiment, as describedabove, includes a printer head which has a nozzle discharging an inkcomposition, a pressure chamber for imparting pressure to the inkcomposition to cause the nozzle to discharge the ink composition, and aconnection portion connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle, andin which a distance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, thedistance of the connection portion being from a portion of the pressurechamber where the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzleside to the nozzle.

Below, an on-carriage type printer to which an ink cartridge isinstalled to a carriage is exemplified as the ink jet printing apparatusaccording to the embodiment; however, the ink jet printing apparatusaccording to the invention is not limited to the on-carriage typeprinter and may be an off-carriage type printer in which the inkcartridge is fixed outside without being installed to the carriage.

In addition, the printer described below is a serial printer, in which aprinter head is installed to the carriage moving in a predetermineddirection and a liquid droplet is discharged on a recording medium asthe head is moved by the movement of the carriage. The ink jet printingapparatus according to the invention is not limited to a serial printer,and may be a line printer, in which the head is formed larger than thewidth of the recording medium and the liquid droplet is discharged onthe recording medium without the printer head being moved.

In respective drawings described below, a scale of various members isappropriately changed in order to obtain a size in which the variousmembers can be recognized.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a printer 200,which is one example of the ink jet printing apparatus according to theembodiment. The printer 200 performs an ink jet printing on a cloth P asa recording medium.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer 200 includes a printer head 100, acarriage 232 in which the printer head 100 is installed and an inkcartridge 231 is detachably mounted, a main scanning mechanism 235 whichcauses the carriage 232 to reciprocate in a medium width direction, anda platen roller 236 which transports a recording medium to a mediumtransportation direction. The printer 200 further includes a controlportion (not illustrated) which controls the entire operations of theprinter 200. Here, the medium width direction is a main scanningdirection (head scanning direction), and the medium transportationdirection is a sub-scanning direction (direction intersecting the mainscanning direction).

The main scanning mechanism 235 includes a timing belt 238 connected tothe carriage 232, a motor 239 driving the timing belt 238, and a guideshaft 240 provided in the main scanning direction, which is a supportmember. The carriage 232 is driven by the motor 239 via the timing belt238, and reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the guideshaft 240. When the carriage reciprocates, an ink is discharged from theprinter head 100 at a predetermined timing and printing is performed onthe cloth P.

A belt unit 230 has an ink jet type recording head (hereinafter, simplyreferred to as a “head” or a “printer head”) configured by the printerhead 100 described below. The belt unit 230 further includes an inkcartridge 231 supplying an ink to the printer head 100 and a carriage232 installed with the printer head 100 and the ink cartridge 231.

In the embodiment, an example, in which printing is performed while boththe printer head 100 and the cloth P are moved, is shown. However, theprinter 200 may be a mechanism in which printing is performed on thecloth P while positions of the printer head 100 and the cloth P arerelatively changed to each other.

In addition, the exemplified printer 200 has one printer head 100, andprinting is performed on the cloth P by this printer head 100. However,the printer may include a plurality of printer heads. In a case wherethe printer 200 includes a plurality of printer heads, each of theplurality of printer heads may be independently operated as describedabove and the plurality of printer heads are linked to each other toform one integrated head. As this integrated head, a line type head, inwhich each nozzle hole of the plurality of heads has an equivalentinterval in entirety, can be exemplified.

2.1.1. Printer Head

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating theprinter head 100 in the printer 200 and shows the state where the upsideof the printer head installed in the printer 200 illustrated in FIG. 1is down. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustratingmain portions of the printer head 100 and schematically shows the flowof an ink from an ink supply chamber 40 to a nozzle hole 12 with dashedline arrows at the time of discharging operation of the ink.

A piezoelectric element 32 is simply illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Inaddition, in the embodiment, the printer head 100 is configured toinclude a communicating plate 110 and a cover 150 but they are omittedin FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer head 100 includes a nozzle plate10 having a plurality of nozzle holes 12 on the surface facing the clothP, which is a recording medium, a plurality of pressure chambers 20respectively communicating with the plurality of nozzle holes 12 formedon the nozzle plate 10, a vibrating plate 30 for changing the capacityof each of the plurality of pressure chambers 20, an ink supply chamber40 for supplying an ink to the plurality of pressure chambers 20, and ahousing 130.

The nozzle plate 10 has the plurality of nozzle holes 12 for dischargingan ink, these plurality of nozzle holes 12 are arranged in a row, and anozzle surface 13 is formed on the surface of the nozzle plate 10. Thenumber of nozzle hole 12 provided on the nozzle plate 10 is notparticularly limited. In the printer head 100 used in the embodiment,the nozzle density in a row direction of the nozzle hole 12 ispreferably 200 dpi or more. In other words, the interval between thenozzle hole 12 and the adjacent arranged nozzle hole 12 is preferably127 μm or less. As the nozzle density is set to 200 dpi or more, thetotal ink ejection quantity can be maintained and the image concealmentcan be maintained, even in a case where the liquid droplet becomesminute. The nozzle density is more preferably 240 dpi or more and stillmore preferably 250 dpi or more, and more preferably 300 dpi or more,still more preferably 400 dpi or more, and most preferably 500 dpi ormore. The upper limit of the nozzle density is preferably 2000 dpi orless and more preferably 1000 dpi or less.

Examples of the material of the nozzle plate 10 include silicon,stainless steel (SUS), and the like. In addition, if the material of thenozzle plate 10 is an alloy including iron (Fe) as a main component (50%or more) and chromium (Cr) in the amount of 10.5% or more, it ispossible to obtain rigidity and prevent rust at the same time, which ismore preferable. The thickness of the nozzle plate 10 is notparticularly limited, and for example, the thickness thereof ispreferably 50 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm or less, and still morepreferably 1 μm to 10 μm.

The printer head 100 includes a pressure chamber substrate 120 forforming a pressure chamber 20 and examples of the material of thepressure chamber substrate 120 include silicon and the like. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the pressure chamber substrate 120 includes acommunicating plate 110 as a channel forming substrate between thenozzle plate 10 and the pressure chamber substrate. As the communicatingplate 110 divides a space between the nozzle plate 10 and the pressurechamber substrate 120, the ink supply chamber 40 (liquid storageportion), a supply port 126 communicating with the ink supply chamber40, and the pressure chamber 20 communicating with the supply port 126are formed. In other words, the ink supply chamber 40, the supply port126 and the pressure chamber 20 are divided by the nozzle plate 10, thecommunicating plate 110, the pressure chamber substrate 120, and thevibrating plate 30.

The communicating plate 110 has a communicating hole 127 communicatingwith the nozzle hole 12 from the pressure chamber 20. A discharge port128 of the ink is formed on the end portion of the communicating hole127 formed on the surface where the communicating plate 110 is incontact with the nozzle plate 10. The discharge port 128 communicateswith the nozzle hole 12 formed on the nozzle plate 10.

The vibrating plate 30 is provided to be in contact with the pressurechamber substrate 120 and the piezoelectric element 32 is formed to bein contact with the vibrating plate 30. The piezoelectric element 32 iselectrically connected to a piezoelectric element driving circuit (notillustrated) and can be operated (vibrated or deformed) based on asignal of the piezoelectric element driving circuit. The vibrating plate30 is deformed by the operation of the piezoelectric element 32 andinternal pressure of the pressure chamber 20 can be changed by changingthe capacity of the pressure chamber 20. The piezoelectric element 32 isnot particularly limited and a type of the element (electromechanicaltransducer), which is deformed by the application of a voltage, can beexemplified. As such, in the embodiment, a piezoelectric actuator 34 isconfigured to include the piezoelectric element 32 and the vibratingplate 30.

In this example, the pressure chamber 20 is divided by the communicatingplate 110, the pressure chamber substrate 120 and the vibrating plate30, but the pressure chamber 20 can be formed by an appropriate memberas long as the capacity can be changed by the vibration of the vibratingplate 30. Thus, the number, shape, and material of the member areoptional. In addition, the vibrating plate 30 may be integral with anelectrode (for example, formed of Pt, or the like) configuring thepiezoelectric element 32.

Since the interval between the nozzle holes 12 is 127 μm or less, theprinter head 100 of the embodiment preferably has a configuration of thepiezoelectric element 32, in which a piezoelectric material is arrangedbetween two electrodes. In other words, for example, one aspect of thepiezoelectric actuator 34 is preferably a thin film, in which oneelectrode, a layer of the piezoelectric material (for example, leadzirconate titanate (PZT)), and the other electrode are laminated inorder with respect to the vibrating plate 30, in entirety.

The material of the vibrating plate 30 is not particularly limited andexamples thereof include silicon oxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiN),silicon oxynitride (SiON), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), titanium oxide(TiO₂), silicon carbide (SiC), and a laminate of the layer formed ofthese materials. The material of the vibrating plate 30 having a Young'smodulus of 250 GPa or less is more preferable, from a viewpoint of beingable to cause a great displacement and hardly cause damage. For example,the material is preferably formed by including ZrO₂ (150 GPa), SiO₂ (75GPa), Si (130 GPa), SUS (199 GPa), and Cr (248 GPa) (the value insidethe parenthesis is Young's modulus). In addition, in a case where theelectrode of the piezoelectric element 32 is formed of Pt and laminatedintegrally with the vibrating plate 30, since the Young's modulus of Ptis 168 GPa and ZrO₂ is 150 GPa, even if they are combined, the total is250 GPa or less. Thus, the above configuration may be allowed.

In the specification, Young's modulus indicates Young's modulus measuredin a static test (JIS G0567J, or the like) (mechanical test), and forexample, is measured by using a No. II-6 specimen.

Further, the printer head 100 includes a compliance sheet 140 as amember for forming a part of the ink channel and a cover 150accommodating the piezoelectric element 32. A supply port 126communicating with the ink supply chamber is formed between thecompliance sheet 140 and the communicating plate 110. In addition, thecompliance sheet 140 is a flexible and elastic film, and has a functionas a damper for discharging or circulating an ink, and a function ofsuppressing damage of the printer head 100 by deformation, in a casewhere the volume of the ink is increased.

The compliance sheet 140 is not particularly limited as long as thesheet is a film having elasticity and for example, a polymer film, athin metal film, a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, or the like are used.The material of the polymer film is not particularly limited andexamples thereof include polyimide, nylon, polyolefin, and polyphenylenesulfite. It is preferable to form the compliance sheet by polyphenylenesulfite. In addition, examples of the metal include a material includingiron or aluminium.

The thickness of the compliance sheet 140 is not particularly limitedand for example, is preferably 50 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm orless, and still more preferably 1 μm to 10 μm. If the compliance sheet140 is too thin, vibration at the time of discharging the ink becomessevere and a residual vibration may frequently occur.

In the embodiment, the ink supply chamber 40, the supply port 126, thepressure chamber 20 and the communicating hole 127 are describedseparately, but these are all liquid channels. As long as the pressurechamber 20 is formed, the channels may be designed in any way. Forexample, the supply port 126 has a shape in which a part of the channelis narrowed in the illustrated example, but the expansion andcontraction of the channels can be optional according to the design,which are not entirely essential configuration.

The pressure chamber 20 formed by the aforementioned configuration is aspace divided by the communicating plate 110, the pressure chambersubstrate 120, and the vibrating plate 30, and refers to a space notincluding the supply port 126, the communicating hole 127, the dischargeport 128, and the nozzle hole 12. That is, a space facing a portion forimparting pressure to the ink of the vibrating plate 30, the pressurechamber substrate 120, and the communicating plate 110, and a space (aportion where deformation or heat is generated in the wall of thepressure chamber 20), a space which is adjacent to this space and inwhich the cross-sectional area of the cross section facing the inkflowing direction is equal to that of this space is determined as thepressure chamber 20, and the capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is thecapacity of this space. As the above, the pressure chamber 20 is a spaceof which the capacity is changed by displacement of the vibrating plate30 and is defined as a space not including narrow channels or the likecommunicating with the space.

As described above, the pressure chamber 20 and the nozzle hole 12 arecommunicated with each other by the communicating hole 127. In theinvention, a portion from the portion where the ink flows out from thepressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle, in other words, inthe example of FIG. 3, the communicating hole 127, the nozzle hole 12,and the entire portion connecting these are defined as a connectionportion 132. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 3, since the connectionportion 132 is provided so as to penetrate the communicating plate 110in parallel in the thickness direction, the distance of the connectionportion 132 is equal to the sum of the length d1 of the communicatingplate 110 in the thickness direction and the length d2 of the nozzleplate 10 in the thickness direction.

In this embodiment, the sum of the length d1 of the communicating plate110 in the thickness direction and the length d2 of the nozzle plate 10in the thickness direction, in other words, d1+d2 is 500 μm or more. Assuch, since the connection portion 132 is configured to have the longdistance, it is possible to prevent the ink from becoming dried from thenozzle surface 13. By doing this, even in a case where the content ofthe resin in the ink is increased in order to increase washing fastnessof the ink coated film, intermittency is not impaired.

In the example of FIG. 3, the nozzle plate 10 and the communicatingplate 110 are laminated and the nozzle hole 12 and the communicatinghole 127 are formed of a different member; however, the nozzle plate andthe communicating plate may be formed of a single member. Even in a casewhere the nozzle plate and the communicating plate are formed of asingle member, the connection portion 132 refers to a portion from theportion where the ink flows out from the pressure chamber to the nozzleside to the nozzle. Even in this case, since the distance of theconnection portion is 500 μm or more, it is possible to prevent the inkfrom becoming dried from the nozzle surface.

The distance of the connection portion 132 is preferably 500 μm to 3000μm, more preferably 700 μm to 2500 μm, and still more preferably 900 μmto 1500 μm. Even in a case where the communicating hole is obliquelyelongated with respect to the nozzle plate 10, the length of thecommunicating hole is the length along the communicating hole. In thiscase, the length of the communicating hole becomes longer than thelength d1 of the communicating plate 110 in the thickness direction.That is, the shortest distance from a boundary between the pressurechamber 20 and the communicating hole to the nozzle hole 12 through thecommunicating hole is determined as the length of the communicatinghole, and the distance of the connection portion is the distance inwhich the length of the nozzle hole 12 and the entire portion connectingthese is added to the length of the communicating hole.

The total capacity of a pressure chamber per pressure chamber and theconnection portion, in other words, in the embodiment, the totalcapacity of the pressure chamber 20, the communicating hole 127, and thenozzle hole 12 is preferably 4200 μl to 6200 μl and more preferably 4500μl to 5500 μl. In this case, it is possible to prevent the ink frombecoming dried from the nozzle surface 13.

In this case, the capacity per one pressure chamber 20 is preferably3700 μl or less and more preferably 3500 μl or less. The capacity isstill more preferably 3300 μl or less and particularly preferably 3000μl or less. The lower limit of the capacity per one pressure chamber 20is preferably 1500 μl or more and more preferably 2000 μl or more. Sincethe capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is 3700 μl or less, it ispossible to secure the capacity of the communicating hole 127sufficiently. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the ink frombecoming dried from the nozzle surface 13.

The ink supply chamber 40 can temporarily store the ink supplied fromoutside (for example, an ink cartridge) via a through hole 129 providedin the vibrating plate 30. The ink in the ink supply chamber 40 can besupplied to the pressure chamber 20 via the supply port 126. Thecapacity of the pressure chamber 20 can be changed by deformation of thevibrating plate 30. The pressure chamber 20 communicates with the nozzlehole 12 via the communicating hole 127, and as the capacity of thepressure chamber 20 is changed, the ink is discharged from the nozzlehole 12 or the ink is introduced from the ink supply chamber 40 to thepressure chamber 20. Here, the nozzle size of the nozzle hole 12 ispreferably 5 μm to 100 μm, more preferably 10 μm to 60 μm, and stillmore preferably 10 μm to 40 μm, from a viewpoint of obtaining excellentimage quality, intermittency, or reducing the mist.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 130 can accommodate the nozzleplate 10, the pressure chamber substrate 120 and the piezoelectricelement 32. As a material of the housing 130, a resin, a metal, or thelike can be exemplified. The housing 130 may have a function to separatethe piezoelectric element 32 from an outside environment. Also, an inertgas may be sealed in the housing 130 or pressure within the housing 130may be reduced. By doing this, it is possible to suppress deteriorationof the piezoelectric material.

The cover 150 is configured as a member separate from the housing 130.The cover 150 is provided so as to be in contact with the vibratingplate 30, forms a space for accommodating the piezoelectric element 32,and accommodates the piezoelectric element 32 in this space. A materialof the cover 150 is the same as the aforementioned material of thehousing 130. The aforementioned housing 130 is a cover covering thepiezoelectric element 32, but the cover 150 has a function of separatingthe piezoelectric element 32 from the outside environment. An inert gasmay be sealed in the space formed by the cover 150 or pressure of thespace may be reduced. By doing this, it is possible to suppressdeterioration of the piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric element32. In this case, the housing 130 may have function as a support of theprinter head 100.

In a case where the printer head 100 of the embodiment exemplified aboveis installed in the printer 200, the nozzle plate 10 is disposed towardthe cloth P, so the nozzle plate 10 becomes in direct contact with theair (outside air). Also, since the printer head 100 of the embodimenthas the housing 130 and the cover 150, the piezoelectric element 32 andthe vibrating plate 30 are configured not to be in contact with theoutside air substantially.

Here, the ink jet printing apparatus of the embodiment performs an inkjet printing method by using an ink composition described below.

2.2. Ink Composition

The ink composition used in the ink jet printing method according to theembodiment of the invention includes a resin and an organic solvent, theink composition includes the resin as a solid content in the amount of3% by mass to 13% by mass with respect to the ink composition, the ratioof the total content of the organic solvent to the total content of thesolid content of the resin is 0.7 or more, and a sum of the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin and the total content of theorganic solvent is 35% by mass or less with respect to the inkcomposition.

Hereinafter, a component included in the ink composition (hereinafter,also simply referred to as an “ink”) used for the ink jet printingmethod according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

2.2.1. Pigment

The ink used for the ink jet printing method according to the embodimentincludes a pigment. As the pigment, either an organic pigment or aninorganic pigment can be used and a pigment in any color can be used.

For example, a white color-based pigment is not limited to the followingand examples thereof include a white inorganic pigment such as titaniumoxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, and zirconium oxide. Awhite organic pigment such as white hollow resin particles and polymerparticles can be used, in addition to the white inorganic pigment.

A color index (C.I.) of the white color-based pigment is not limited tothe following and examples thereof include C.I. pigment white 1 (basiclead carbonate), 4 (zinc oxide), 5 (a mixture of zinc sulfide and bariumsulfate), 6 (titanium oxide), 6:1 (titanium oxide including other metaloxides), 7 (zinc sulfide), 18 (calcium carbonate), 19 (clay), (micatitanium), 21 (barium sulfate), 22 (natural barium sulfate), 23 (glosswhite), 24 (alumina white), 25 (plaster), (magnesium oxide.siliconoxide), 27 (silica), and 28 (anhydrous calcium silicate). Among these,titanium oxide is preferable since color developing properties,concealment, and visibility (brightness) are excellent and asatisfactory dispersed particle diameter is obtained.

Among the aforementioned titanium oxide, a general rutile type titaniumoxide is preferable as the white color-based pigment. This rutile typetitanium oxide may be manufactured by oneself or may be the onecommercially available. As an industrial manufacturing method in a casewhere the rutile type titanium oxide (powder form) is manufactured byoneself, the well-known sulfuric acid method and a chlorine method canbe exemplified. Examples of the rutile type titanium oxide includerutile types such as Tipaque (registered trade mark) CR-60-2, CR-67,R-980, R-780, R-850, R-980, R-630, R-670, and PF-736 (the above aremanufacture by ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA, LTD., trade name).

The ink used in the embodiment may include a pigment other than thewhite color-based pigment. The pigment other than the white color-basedpigment refers to a pigment excluding the aforementioned whitecolor-based pigment. The pigment other than the white color-basedpigment is not particularly limited below and for example, an organicpigment such as an azo-based pigment, a phthalocyanine-based pigment, adye-based pigment, a condensed polycyclic pigment, a nitro-basedpigment, and a nitroso-based pigment (brilliant carmine 6B, lake red C,watching red, disazo yellow, hansa yellow, phthalocyanine blue,phthalocyanine green, alkali blue, and aniline black); metals such ascobalt, iron, chromium, copper, zinc, lead, titanium, vanadium,manganese, and nickel, and metal oxides and sulfides; carbon blacks(C.I. pigment black 7) such as furnace carbon black, lamp black,acetylene black, and channel black; and an inorganic pigment such asyellow soil, ultramarine blue, and iron blue can be used.

Further specifically, examples of the carbon black which can be used asa black-based pigment include MCF88, No. 2300, 2200B, 900, 33, 40, 45,52, MA7, 8, 100 (the above are manufactured by Mitsubishi ChemicalCorporation, trade name), Raven 5750, 5250, 5000, 3500, 1255, 700 (theabove are manufactured by Columbia Carbon Co., Ltd., trade name), Regal400R, 330R, 660R, Mogul L, Monarch 700, 800, 880, 900, 1000, 1100, 1300,1400 (the above are manufactured by Cabot Corporation, trade name),Color Black FW1, FW2, FW2V, FW18, FW200, 5150, 5160, 5170, Printex 35,U, V, 140U, Special Black 6, 5, 4A, and 4 (the above are manufactured byDegussa AG, trade name).

Examples of the yellow-based pigment include C.I. pigment yellow 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, 34, 35, 37, 53, 55, 65,73, 74, 75, 81, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114,117, 120, 124, 128, 129, 133, 138, 139, 147, 151, 153, 154, 167, 172,and 180.

Examples of the magenta-based pigment include C.I. pigment red 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30,31, 32, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48 (Ca), 48 (Mn), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 88, 112,114, 122, 123, 144, 146, 149, 150, 166, 168, 170, 171, 175, 176, 177,178, 179, 184, 185, 187, 202, 209, 219, 224, 245, C.I. pigment violet19, 23, 32, 33, 36, 38, 43, and 50.

Examples of the cyan-based pigment include C.I. pigment blue 1, 2, 3,15, 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:34, 15:4, 16, 18, 22, 25, 60, 65, and 66.

Examples of the pigment other than magenta, cyan, and yellow includeC.I. pigment green 7, 10, C.I. pigment brown 3, 5, 25, 26, C.I. pigmentorange 1, 2, 5, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 43, and 63.

The aforementioned pigment may be used alone or two or more may be usedin combination.

The content of the pigment included in the ink used in the embodiment isdifferent depending on the type of the pigment to be used. The contentof the pigment is preferably 1% by mass to 30% by mass, more preferably1% by mass to 15% by mass, and still more preferably 5% by mass to 13%by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink, from a viewpoint ofsecuring satisfactory color developing properties. Among these, in acase where a non-white pigment for a color ink is used as the pigmentincluded in the ink, the content of the non-white pigment is preferably0.2% by mass to 8% by mass, more preferably 1% by mass to 6% by mass,and still more preferably 2% by mass to 5% by mass with respect to thetotal mass of the ink.

The pigment may be a pigment which has been the surface treated or apigment in which a dispersant is used, from a viewpoint of increasingdispersibility in the ink.

The pigment which has been surface treated refers to a pigment, in whicha hydrophilic group such as a carboxyl group and a sulfonate group isdirectly or indirectly bonded to the pigment surface by physicaltreatment or chemical treatment so as to enable dispersion in an aqueoussolvent (hereinafter, referred to as a “self-dispersion type pigment”).

The pigment in which a dispersant is used refers to a pigment in which apigment is dispersed by a surfactant or a resin (hereinafter, referredto as a “polymer-dispersion type pigment”), and any well-known materialcan be used as the surfactant or the resin. In addition, a pigmentcoated with a resin is included in the polymer-dispersion type pigment.The pigment coated with a resin can be obtained by an acid analysismethod, inversion emulsification method, or mini-emulsion polymerizationmethod.

2.2.2. Resin

The ink used in the embodiment includes a resin. Since adhesion of theink to a cloth is enhanced by including the resin, abrasion resistanceof the image to be recorded can be enhanced.

The ink used in the embodiment can be appropriately used for recordingof a cloth. Here, since the cloth has properties of being easilystretched, the image to be recorded, in other words, the ink film formedby the ink is preferably a film which is easily stretched (elongated).That is, since the ink film has elasticity in which the ink film can bestretched according to the stretching of the cloth, a fracture, crackingof the ink film can be prevented and washing.rubbing fastness can besecured. From this viewpoint, the film elasticity of the resin includedin the ink according to the embodiment is preferably 400% to 1200%, morepreferably 500% to 1200%, still more preferably 600% to 1200%, andparticularly preferably 700% to 1200%. Since the film elasticity of theresin is within the aforementioned range, in particular, is notdecreased below the lower limit, an image having excellent followabilitywith respect to the stretching of the cloth can be formed. In addition,since the film elasticity of the resin is within the aforementionedrange, in particular, does not exceed the upper limit, viscosity of theink film can be maintained within the appropriate range and decrease ofthe anchor effect with respect to the cloth can be suppressed. Thus, itis possible to form an image having satisfactory washing.rubbingfastness (abrasion resistance), while the decrease in fixability issuppressed.

The film elasticity of the resin is measured as follows. First, theresin is applied to a polytetrafluoroethylene sheet such that the filmthickness after drying is 500 μm, and the resin is dried at roomtemperature (20° C.).normal pressure (65% RH) for 15 hours and furtherdried at a temperature of 80° C. for 6 hours and at a temperature of120° C. for 20 minutes. After that, a resin film is created by peelingthe resin off the sheet. Then, the film elasticity of the obtained resinfilm is measured by using a tensile strength tester under a condition ofa measuring temperature of 20° C. and a measuring speed of 200 mm/min.The measurement of the film elasticity is performed such that the resinfilm is elongated until the resin film is fractured to measure theelongated length and a ratio thereof is shown in percentage as the filmelasticity. In addition, as the tensile strength tester, for example, auniversal testing instrument RTC-1225A (trade name, manufactured byORIENTEC Co., LTD.) or an instrument same as this can be used.

In addition, a glass transition point (Tg) of the resin is preferably 0°C. or less and more preferably −10° C. or less from a viewpoint ofpreventing a fracture or cracking of the ink film and securingwashing.rubbing fastness. Also, the lower limit of the glass transitionpoint (Tg) is preferably −80° C. or more. In addition, a minimum filmforming temperature (MFT) of the resin included in a first ink ispreferably 0° C. or less and more preferably −10° C. or less from aviewpoint of preventing a fracture or cracking of the ink film andsecuring washing.rubbing fastness. Also, the lower limit of the minimumfilm forming temperature is preferably −80° C. or more.

The resin is preferably an emulsion from a viewpoint of enhancingabrasion resistance of the film, adhesion, and storage stability of theink. The resin included in the ink according to the embodiment may be aself-emulsifying type in which a hydrophilic component necessary forstably dispersing the resin in water is introduced, or water-dispersibleby the use of an emulsifier from outside. However, the resin ispreferably a self-emulsifying type dispersant (self-emulsifying typeemulsion) not including an emulsifier form a viewpoint of not inhibitinga reaction with a polyvalent metal compound included in the pretreatmentagent described below.

As the resin, for example, an acrylic resin, a styrene acrylic resin, afluorene-based resin, an urethane-based resin, a polyolefin-based resin,a rosin modified resin, a terpene-based resin, a polyester-based resin,a polyamide-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, a vinyl chloride-basedresin, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and an ethylenevinylacetate-based resin can be used. These resins may be used alone or twoor more may be used in combination. Among these, at least one selectedfrom the urethane-based resin and acrylic resin is preferable and theurethane-based resin is more preferably used, from a viewpoint ofincreasing freedom in designing so as to easily obtain desired filmproperties (aforementioned film elasticity).

The urethane-based resin is not particularly limited as long as theresin has an urethane structure and water dispersibility. For example, acommercially available product such as Super Flex 460, 460s, 840 (tradename, manufactured by DKS Co. Ltd.), Resamine D-1060, D-2020, D-4080,D-4200, D-6300, D-6455 (trade name, manufactured by DainichiseikaColor&Chemicals Mfg.Co., Ltd.), Takelac WS-6021, W-512-A-6 (trade name,manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals Polyurethanes, Inc.), and Sancure 2710(trade name, manufactured by LUBRIZOL CORPORATION) may be used.

In addition, the urethane-based resin is preferably an anionicurethane-based resin having an anionic functional group such as acarboxy group, a sulfo group, and a hydroxy group, from a viewpoint ofstorage stability of the ink or enhancing reactivity with the polyvalentmetal compound in a case where the polyvalent metal compound is includedin the pretreatment agent described below. Among the aforementionedcommercially available products, as the anionic urethane-based resin,Super Flex 460, 460s, and 840 manufactured by DKS Co. Ltd.; and TakelacWS-6021 and W-512-A-6 manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals PolyurethanesInc. can be exemplified.

In addition, as the urethane-based resin, in addition to urethane bond,a polyether type urethane resin including ether bond on a main chain, apolyester type urethane resin including ester bond on a main chain, anda polycarbonate type urethane resin including carbonate bond on a mainchain can be used. A plurality of these urethane resins may be combinedto be used.

As the acrylic resin, a polymer of an acrylic monomer such as an acrylicacid and acrylic ester, and a copolymer of the acrylic monomer and othermonomers can be used. Examples of the other monomers include avinyl-based monomer such as styrene. As the acrylic resin, acommercially available product may be used, and Mowinyl 702, 7502, 7525,and 7320 (manufactured by The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co.,Ltd.) can be exemplified.

The content of the resin is preferably 1% by mass to 15% by mass, morepreferably 2% by mass to 14% by mass, and still more preferably 3% bymass to 13% by mass, still more preferably 5% by mass to 12% by mass,still more preferably 7% by mass to 11% by mass, and most preferably 8%by mass to 10% by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink interms of a solid content. Since the content of the resin in the ink iswithin the aforementioned range, in particular, is not decreased belowthe lower limit, an effect in which the resin enhances fixability of theink can be sufficiently exhibited. Thus, abrasion resistance of theimage to be recorded is enhanced and washing fastness of the obtainedink coated film is enhanced. Also, since the content of the resin in theink does not exceed the upper limit, generation of the aggregates causedby the resin can be suppressed. Thus, storage stability or dischargestability of the ink becomes excellent.

The ratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin is preferably 0.5 or more,more preferably 0.7 or more, still more preferably 0.8 to 8.5, stillmore preferably 1 to 6, particularly preferably 1.5 to 5, and mostpreferably 1.7 to 3. Further, the sum of the total content of theorganic solvent and the total content of the solid content of the resinis preferably 40% by mass or less, more preferably 35% by mass or less,and still more preferably 33% by mass or less with respect to the inkcomposition, from a viewpoint of securing washing fastness of theobtained ink coated film. Also, the lower limit is preferably 15% bymass or more, more preferably 20% by mass or more, still more preferably25% by mass or more, particularly preferably 27% by mass or more, andmost preferably 29% by mass or more.

2.2.3. Aggregating Agent

In a case where an image is recorded on a non-white cloth, recording isperformed by using a white ink including a white color-based pigmentsuch as titanium oxide in order to render visibility of the image on thenon-white cloth satisfactory. However, in the non-white cloth, there isa tendency that color developing properties of the ink in a case wherethe ink is filtrated into the cloth or concealment of the cloth aregreatly decreased, and color developing properties of the image to berecorded and concealment of the cloth become insufficient. Thus, it ispreferable to use a reaction liquid including an aggregating agent foraggregating or thickening the ink component, from a viewpoint ofincreasing color developing properties of the image obtained by the inkused for forming an image on the non-white cloth and increasingconcealment of the cloth.

As the aggregating agent, for example, a polyvalent metal compound suchas calcium chloride can be used. As the aggregating agent reacts with acomponent such as a resin or a pigment included in the ink to formaggregates by the component of the ink, it is possible to increase colordeveloping properties of the image to be recorded and concealment of thecloth.

2.2.4. Other Components

The ink used in the embodiment may include water, an organic solvent, asurfactant, a pH adjuster, a preservative.fungicide, or the like.

Water

Water is a major medium of the ink and is a component which evaporatesand scatters by drying. Examples of the water include pure water such asion exchanged water, ultrafiltrated water, reverse osmotic water, anddistilled water, and water from which ionic impurities are completelyremoved such as ultrapure water. Also, if water sterilized byirradiation with ultraviolet rays or addition of hydrogen peroxide isused, it is possible to prevent generation of fungi or bacteria in acase where the ink is stored for a long period of time. The content ofwater included in the ink is not particularly limited, and for example,the content of water may be 50% by mass or more and further may be 50%by mass to 95% by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink.

Organic Solvent

Examples of the organic solvent include 1,2-alkanediols, polyalcohols,and glycol ethers. These may be used alone or two or more may be used incombination. The content of the organic solvent is preferably 8% by massto 30% by mass, more preferably 10% by mass to 25% by mass, still morepreferably 15% by mass to 23% by mass, and particularly preferably 18%by mass to 23% by mass, with respect to the total mass of the ink.

Examples of the 1,2-alkanediols include 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol,1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and 1,2-octanediol. Since the1,2-alkanediols has an excellent effect of causing the recording mediumto wet uniformly by increasing wettability of the ink with respect tothe recording medium such as a cloth, an image having less bleeding canbe recorded. In a case where the 1,2-alkanediols are included, thecontent thereof may be 1% by mass to 20% by mass with respect to thetotal mass of the ink.

Examples of the polyalcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol,triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol,1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 1,4-butanediol,1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2,3-butanediol,3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol,2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol,2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, trimethylolpropane, and glycerin. Thepolyalcohols may be preferably used from a viewpoint of reducingclogging or discharge failure by suppressing the ink from drying andsolidifying in the nozzle surface of the head. In a case where thepolyalcohols are included, the content thereof may be 2% by mass to 20%by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink.

Examples of the glycol ethers include alkylene glycol monoether andalkylene glycol diether.

Examples of the alkylene glycol monoether include ethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycolmonoisopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycolmonohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, diethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycolmonobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, triethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycolmonobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetraethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, anddipropylene glycol monoethyl ether.

Examples of the alkylene glycol diether include ethylene glycol dimethylether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether,diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether,diethylene glycol ethylmethyl ether, diethylene glycol dibutyl ether,triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol diethyl ether,triethylene glycol dibutyl ether, triethylene glycol butylmethyl ether,tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol diethyl ether,tetraethylene glycol dibutyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether,propylene glycol diethyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether,dipropylene glycol diethyl ether.

Since the glycol ethers can control wettability of the ink with respectto the recording medium or a filtration rate, a clear image can berecorded. In a case where the glycol ethers are included, the contentthereof may be 0.05% by mass to 6% by mass with respect to the totalmass of the ink.

Surfactant

The surfactant has a function of increasing wettability with respect tothe recording medium by decreasing the surface tension. Among thesurfactant, for example, an acetylene glycol-based surfactant, asilicone-based surfactant, and a fluorine-based surfactant may bepreferably used.

The acetylene glycol-based surfactant is not particularly limited, andthe examples thereof include Surfynol 104, 104E, 104H, 104A, 104BC,104DPM, 104PA, 104PG-50, 104S, 420, 440, 465, 485, SE, SE-F, 504, 61,DF37, CT111, CT121, CT131, CT136, TG, GA, DF110D (trade name, all of theabove are manufactured by Air Products and Chemicals. Inc.), Olfine B,Y, P, A, STG, SPC, E1004, E1010, PD-001, PD-002W, PD-003, PD-004,EXP.4001, EXP.4036, EXP.4051, AF-103, AF-104, AK-02, SK-14, AE-3 (tradename, all of the above are manufactured by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd.),ACETYLENOL E00, E00P, E40, and E100 (trade name, all of the above aremanufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.).

The silicone-based surfactant is not particularly limited, and apolysiloxane-based compound can be preferably exemplified. Thepolysiloxane-based compound is not particularly limited and examplesthereof include polyether modified organosiloxanes. Examples of thecommercially available products of polyether modified organosiloxanesinclude BYK-306, BYK-307, BYK-333, BYK-341, BYK-345, BYK-346, BYK-348(trade name, all of the above are manufactured by BYK JAPAN K.K.),KF-351A, KF-352A, KF-353, KF-354L, KF-355A, KF-615A, KF-945, KF-640,KF-642, KF-643, KF-6020, X-22-4515, KF-6011, KF-6012, KF-6015, andKF-6017 (trade name, all of the above are manufactured by Shin-EtsuChemical Co., Ltd.).

As the fluorine-based surfactant, a fluorine modified polymer ispreferably used, and the specific example thereof is BYK-340(manufactured by BYK Japan K.K.). pH adjuster

Examples of the pH adjuster include potassium dihydrogenphosphate,disodium hydrogenphosphate, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide,potassium hydroxide, ammonia, diethanolamine, triethanolamine,triisopropanolamine, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodiumhydrogen carbonate.

Preservative.Fungicide

Examples of the preservative.fungicide include sodium benzoate, sodiumpentachlorophenol, 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide sodium, sodium sorbate,sodium dehydroacetate, and 1,2-dibenzine thiazoline-3-one (Proxel CRL,Proxel BND, Proxel GXL, Proxel XL-2, and Proxel TN of ICI).

2.2.5. Method for Manufacturing an Ink Composition

The ink used in the embodiment can be obtained by mixing theaforementioned components in an arbitrary order and removing impuritiesby means of filtration, if necessary. As a mixing method of eachcomponent, a method is appropriately used, in which the material isadded to a container including a stirring apparatus such as a mechanicalstirrer and a magnetic stirrer in an order to stir and mix the material.As a filtration method, centrifugal filtration or filter filtration canbe performed, as necessary.

2.2.6. Physical Properties of Ink Composition

With regard to the surface tension of the ink used in the embodiment,the surface tension at a temperature of 20° C. is preferably 20 mN/m to40 mN/m and more preferably 25 mN/m to 35 mN/m from a viewpoint of thebalance between an image quality and reliability as the ink for ink jet.Also, the surface tension can be measured by confirming a surfacetension when a platinum plate is wetted by the ink in an environment of20° C., for example, using an automatic surface tensiometer CBVP-Z(trade name, manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd).

In addition, from the same viewpoint, the viscosity of the ink accordingto the embodiment at a temperature of 20° C. is preferably 3 mPa·s to 10mPa·s and more preferably 3 mPa·s to 8 mPa·s. Also, the viscosity can bemeasured in an environment of 20° C., for example, using viscoelastictesting machine MCR-300 (trade name, manufactured by Pysica).

Next, an ink attachment step and a reaction liquid attachment step inthe ink jet printing method according to the embodiment will bedescribed.

2.3. Ink Attachment Step

As described above, the ink attachment step according to the embodimentis a step for attaching the ink composition to the cloth, by using anozzle discharging an ink composition; a pressure chamber for impartingpressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle to discharge the inkcomposition; and a printer head, in which a distance of the connectionportion is 500 μm or more, the distance of the connection portion beingfrom a portion of the pressure chamber where the ink flows out from apressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle.

The cloth where the ink composition is attached is not particularlylimited and examples thereof include natural fiber such as silk, cotton,and wool; a woven fabric, a knitted item; and a non-woven fabric usingsynthetic fiber including nylon, polyester, polypropylene and rayon as araw material.

In an ink discharge step, the maximum mass per one ink droplet of theink discharging is preferably 30 ng or less. Here, the ink amount of onedischarged droplet is not the total number of ejections, but a massdischarged for one time (one ejection). In the ink attachment stepaccording to the embodiment, since the maximum mass per one ink dropletof the ink discharging is 30 ng or less, the ink droplet becomes fineand strike through of the cloth can be suppressed. The maximum mass perone ink droplet is preferably 25 ng or less, more preferably 20 ng orless, still more preferably 15 ng or less, and most preferably 10 ng orless. The lower limit of the maximum mass per one ink droplet ispreferably 1 ng or more, more preferably 3 ng or more, and still morepreferably 5 ng or more.

In addition, in the ink attachment step, the maximum ink attachmentamount to the cloth is preferably 40 mg/inch² or less. Since the maximumink attachment amount to the cloth is 40 mg/inch² or less, it ispossible to suppress strike through of the cloth. The maximum inkattachment amount to the cloth is more preferably 30 mg/inch² or less,still more preferably 20 mg/inch² or less, particularly preferably 15mg/inch² or less, and most preferably 10 mg/inch² or less. In addition,the lower limit of the maximum ink attachment amount to the cloth ispreferably 1 mg/inch² or more and more preferably 5 mg/inch² or more.

In addition, as described above, by using the printer head, in which adistance of the connection portion is 500 μm or more, the distance ofthe connection portion being from a portion of the pressure chamberwhere the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side tothe nozzle, even in a case where the solid content of the resin isincreased, the ink can be prevented from becoming dried from the nozzlesurface and the ink jet printing method having excellent intermittencycan be achieved. Also, the ink jet printed matter having excellentwashing fastness can be obtained.

2.4. Reaction Liquid Attachment Step

The ink jet printing method according to the embodiment preferablyincludes a reaction liquid attachment step for attaching a reactionliquid which includes the aggregating agent for aggregating orthickening the component of the ink composition to the cloth before orafter the ink attachment step. As described above, in a case where inkjet printing is performed on a non-white cloth, for example, using awhite ink including a white color-based pigment, it is preferable toattach the reaction liquid which includes the aggregating agent foraggregating or thickening the ink component to the cloth, from aviewpoint of increasing color developing properties of the obtainedimage or concealment of the cloth.

For example, in a case where the reaction liquid attachment step isincluded before the ink attachment step, if the reaction liquid whichincludes the aggregating agent is attached to the area of the clothwhere an image is formed by the ink being attached, the aggregatingagent included in the reaction liquid and the resin or the pigmentincluded in the ink react to each other when the ink is attached in theink attachment step, and these components included in the ink may beaggregated as aggregates. Due to the above, color developing propertiesof the image formed in the ink attachment step are enhanced and thecloth can be concealed satisfactorily.

In addition, the reaction liquid attachment step can be included afterthe ink attachment step. In this case, by attaching the reaction liquidbefore the ink attached in the ink attachment step is dried, the resinor the pigment included in the ink may be aggregated as aggregates bythe aggregating agent. Due to the above, color developing properties ofthe image formed in the ink attachment step are enhanced and the clothcan be concealed satisfactorily.

3. Examples

Hereinafter, the first invention will be described in more detail usingExamples and Comparative Examples and the invention is not limited tothese Examples. In addition, “parts” and “%” in Examples and ComparativeExamples is on the basis of mass unless otherwise mentioned.

3.1. Preparation of White Ink Composition

After the components shown in the lower column of Table 1 were mixed toeach other and stirred for 2 hours by a magnetic stirrer, they werefiltrated using a membrane filter having a pore diameter of 5 μm toobtain a white ink composition of I1 to I9. In addition, the numericalvalues in Table 1 represent the content of the white ink composition(based on mass %), and the upper column of Table represents respectivenumerical values corresponding to Claim 1. Also, abbreviated names ofrespective components shown in Table 1 are as follows.

White pigment (trade name “Tipaque (registered trade mark) CR-60-2”,manufactured by ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA, LTD.)

Urethane resin (trade name “Takelac WS-6021”, manufactured by MitsuiChemicals, Inc.)

Surfactant (trade name “BYK-306”, manufactured by BYK Japan K.K.)

Additive (trade name “Proxel CRL”, manufactured by ICI)

TABLE 1 Ink No. I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 I7 I8 I9 Solid content of resin 19 1010 25 25 8 27 25 11 Total amount of organic solvent 12 27 10 8 12 14 116 28 Total amount of organic solvent/total 0.63 2.70 1.00 0.32 0.48 1.750.41 0.24 2.55 amount of solid content of resin Total amount of solidcontent of 31.0 37.0 20.0 33.0 37.0 22.0 38.0 31.0 39.0 resin + totalamount of organic solvent Solid content of white pigment 10 10 10 10 1010 10 10 10 Solid content of urethane resin 19 10 10 25 25 8 27 25 11Glycerin 6 13 5 5 6 7 5 3 14 Triethylene glycol 2 6 2 1 2 3 2 1 6Propylene glycol 2 6 2 1 2 2 2 1 6 Triethylene glycol monobutyl ether 22 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 Surfactant 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Variousadditives 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Water 58.4 52.4 69.4 56.452.4 67.4 51.4 58.4 50.4 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

3.2. Preparation of Ink Jet Printing Apparatus

As the ink jet printing apparatus including the printer head illustratedin FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, a modified device of SC-F2000(manufactured by Seiko Epson Corp.) was prepared. Three types of theheads H1 to H3 shown in Table 2 were used as the head.

TABLE 2 Printer head No. H1 H2 H3 H4 Length from pressure chamber to1000 100 1000 500 nozzle surface [μm] Nozzle pitch [dpi] 300 360 180 300Capacity of pressure chamber [pl] 2900 2900 3700 2900 Total capacity ofnozzle hole, 4200 3100 5000 3600 communicating hole, and pressurechamber

Here, the head H1 has a structure shown in FIG. 3 and the length fromthe bottom surface of the pressure chamber 20 to the nozzle surface 13,in other words, the distance of the connection portion 132 (d1+d2) is1000 μm, the nozzle pitch is 300 dpi, the capacity of the pressurechamber 20 is 2900 μl, and the sum of the capacity of the communicatinghole 127, the nozzle hole 12, and the pressure chamber 20 is 4200 μl.

The head H2 has a structure shown in FIG. 4. That is, the printer headH2 shown in FIG. 4 does not include a communicating hole, and thepressure chamber 20 indicates a space divided by the nozzle plate 10,the communicating plate 110, and the vibrating plate 30, which is aspace not including the nozzle hole 12 and the supply port 126. In thehead H2, the length from the bottom surface of the pressure chamber 20to the length of the nozzle surface 13, in other words, the distance ofthe connection portion 132 is the length of the nozzle hole 12, which is100 μm, the same as the thickness of the nozzle plate 10. Also, thenozzle pitch is 360 dpi, the capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is 2900μl, and the sum of the capacity of the nozzle hole 12 and the pressurechamber 20 is 3100 μl.

The head H3 is a head having a similar structure to the head H1, thecapacity of the pressure chamber is greater, and the nozzle density islower than that of the head H1. That is, the distance of the connectionportion 132 is 1000 μm, the nozzle pitch is 180 dpi, the capacity of thepressure chamber 20 is 3700 μl, and the sum of the capacity of thecommunicating hole 127, the nozzle hole 12, and the pressure chamber 20is 5000 μl.

The head H4 is a head having a similar structure to the head H1, thedistance of the connection portion 132 is 500 μm, shorter than that ofthe head H1, and the capacity of the nozzle pitch and the pressurechamber 20 is the same as that of the head H1. That is, the nozzle pitchis 300 dpi, the capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is 2900 μl, and thesum of the capacity of the communicating hole 127, the nozzle hole 12and the pressure chamber 20 is 3600 μl since the distance of theconnection portion 132 is shorter than that of the head H1. In addition,in all of the heads, the nozzle size of the nozzle hole 12 is 20 μm.

3.3. Printing Recording Test

A printing recording test was performed on a cloth (manufactured byHanesbrands Inc., heavy weight, cotton 100%, black texture). 15% by massof calcium chloride, 0.1% by mass of a surfactant (trade name “BYK-348”,manufactured by BYK Japan K.K.), 10% by mass of Mowinyl 966A (tradename, manufactured by the Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.),and ion exchanged water (residues) were mixed to each other such thatthe total amount becomes 100% by mass to obtain a pretreatment agent.Here, the mixing amount of respective components is based on a solidcontent.

After the pretreatment liquid was sprayed uniformly on A4 size cloth ina coating amount of 3 g and heated to be dried, the cloth was set intothe aforementioned printer, one nozzle row of each head was filled withthe prepared inks I1 to I9, the ink was discharged from the head toattach the ink to the cloth. The mass of the ink per one droplet was setas the values shown in Tables 3, and the ink was attached by adjustingdot resolution such that the ink attachment amount of the recording areais 200 mg/inch² to record an image. After the ink was attached, thecloth was discharged and heated at a temperature of 170° C. for oneminute to be dried, thereby obtaining a printed matter. However, the inkattachment amount of Example 7 was about 22% of other Examples becauseExample 6 was an example in which the mass of the ink droplet wasreduced.

3.4. Evaluation of Printed Matter 3.4.1. Evaluation of Image Concealment

The L*value of an image of the printed matter was measured by acolorimeter (trade name “Gretag Macbeth Spectrolino”, manufactured byX-RITE Inc.) and evaluation was performed based on the followingevaluation standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: 94≤L*

A: 91≤L*<94

B: 89≤L*<91

C: L*<89

3.4.2. Evaluation of Washing Fastness

The printed matter was evaluated by a washing fastness test. The washingfastness test was performed based on “AATCC61 2A, 3A” and evaluation wasperformed based on the following evaluation standard. Also, thefollowing “2A” indicates that the printed matter was washed at atemperature of 25° C. and “3A” indicates that the printed matter waswashed at a temperature of 60° C. A Duty100% portion is the imageportion created by the aforementioned printing recording test, a Duty50%portion is the image portion created in the same manner except that theattachment amount is set to the half of Duty100%.

Evaluation Standard

AA: Under the condition of 3A, a film did not fall off in the Duty50%portion.

A: Under the condition of 3A, the film fell off in the Duty50% portion,and the film did not fall off in the Duty100% portion.

B: Under the condition of 3A, the film fell off even in the Duty100%portion, and under the condition of 2A, the film did not fall off evenin the Duty50% portion.

C: Under the condition of 2A, the film fell off even in the Duty50%portion.

3.4.3. Evaluation of Intermittency

Under the recording condition of the apparatus used in theaforementioned printing recording test, after the ink was continuouslydischarged for 5 minutes to an ink receiving portion presumed to be usedfor a long time and provided from the head to the platen side, and thehead was left alone for 1 minute, continuous discharging of the ink for5 minutes and leaving the head alone for 1 minute were conducted againand the above set was performed for 10 times. After the test wasfinished, the nozzle which did not discharge the ink was investigated,the number of the nozzle which did not discharge the ink was calculatedwith respect to the number of the used entire nozzles, and evaluationwas performed based on the following standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: less than 1%

A: equal to or more than 1% and less than 3%

B: equal to or more than 3% and less than 5%

C: equal to or more than 5%

3.4.4. Evaluation of Mist

Under the recording condition of the apparatus used in theaforementioned printing recording test, after the ink was continuouslyattached to the cloth for 5 minutes, the ratio of the area coated withthe ink liquid was measured in the area having a radius of 7 μm from thecenter of the nozzle row of the nozzle plate of the head, and evaluationwas performed based on the following standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: less than 10%

A: equal to or more than 10% and less than 30%

B: equal to or more than 30% and less than 50%

C: equal to or more than 50%

3.4.5. Evaluation of Color Developing Properties (Strike Through)

The back of the cloth of the image portion of the printed matterobtained in the printing recording test was visually observed andevaluation was performed based on the following standard.

Evaluation Standard

A: No strike through has occurred.

B: Strike through has slightly occurred.

C: Strike through has occurred a lot.

3.5. Evaluation Result

The evaluation result of each Example and Comparative Example is shownin Table 3.

TABLE 3 Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5Example 1 Example 6 Printer head No. H1 H1 H1 H1 H1 H2 H3 Ink No. I1 I2I3 I4 I5 I1 I1 Weight of ink per 7 7 7 7 7 7 31 one ink droplet [ng/dot]Color developing A A A A A A C properties (strike through) Concealmentof image A A A A A AA A Intermittency A AA A B B C A Washing fastness AB B AA AA A A Mist A B AA B B A A Comparative Comparative ComparativeComparative Example 7 Example 8 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5Printer head No. H3 H4 H1 H1 H1 H1 Ink No. I1 I2 I6 I7 I8 I9 Weight ofink per 7 7 7 7 7 7 one ink droplet [ng/dot] Color developing A A A A AA properties (strike through) Concealment of image C A A A A AIntermittency A A A B C AA Washing fastness A B C AA AA B Mist A B AA CA C

As clarified from the result of Table 3, in Examples 1 to 5 and 8, inwhich the printer heads H1, H3, and H4 in which the length from thepressure chamber to the nozzle surface is 500 μm or more, and the inksI1 to I5 are combined, all of the evaluations were satisfactory. Also,in Example 6 in which the printer head H3 is used, since the maximummass of the one ink droplet of the discharged ink composition was 31 ng,the strike through was observed. Also, in Example 7, since the nozzlepitch was small, the image concealment was deteriorated as a result.

In contrast, in Comparative Example 1, in which the communicating holeis not included and the head H2 in which the length from the pressurechamber to the nozzle surface is short was used, the ink was dried fromthe nozzle surface and the intermittency was deteriorated as a result.In Comparative Example 2 in which the printer head H1 was used, sincethe amount of the solid content of the resin with respect to the usedink composition was small, the washing fastness was deteriorated as aresult. In Comparative Example 3, since the amount of the solid contentof the resin with respect to the used ink composition was great, a largeamount of mist was generated and the nozzle surface was contaminated asa result. In Comparative Example 4, since the ratio of the total contentof the organic solvent to the total content of the solid content of theresin was smaller than 0.3, the ink was dried and the intermittency wasdeteriorated as a result. In Comparative Example 5, since the sum of thetotal content of the organic solvent and the total content of the solidcontent of the resin was greater than 37% by mass with respect to theink composition, a large amount of mist was generated and the nozzlesurface was contaminated as a result.

As such, according to the ink jet printing method according to theinvention, by combining the head and the ink included in the range ofthe invention, it is clarified that adhesion (washing fastness) of theink to the cloth can be enhanced, while the ink is prevented frombecoming dried from the nozzle surface and discharging reliability issecured; furthermore, generation of the mist can be suppressed at thetime of discharging and generation of the strike through of the ink canbe prevented, while the image concealment is secured.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment,and further can be modified variously. For example, the inventionincludes the substantially same configuration (for example, aconfiguration of which a function, method, and result are the same, or aconfiguration of which a purpose and result are the same) as theconfiguration stated in the embodiment. In addition, the inventionincludes a configuration of which a non-essential part stated in theembodiment is substituted. In addition, the invention includes aconfiguration exhibiting the same effect, or a configuration capable ofachieving the same purpose stated in the embodiment. In addition, theinvention includes a configuration in which the well-known technology isadded to the configuration stated in the embodiment.

Hereinafter, the second invention will be described in more detail usingExamples and Comparative Examples and the invention is not limited tothese Examples. In addition, “parts” and “%” in Examples and ComparativeExamples is on the basis of mass unless otherwise mentioned.

4. Example 4.1. Preparation of Non-White Ink Composition

After the components shown in the lower column of Table 4 were mixed toeach other and stirred for 2 hours by a magnetic stirrer, they werefiltrated using a membrane filter having a pore diameter of 5 μm toobtain a non-white ink composition of I1 to I11. In addition, thenumerical values in Table 4 represent the content of the ink composition(based on mass %), and the upper column of Table represents respectivenumerical values corresponding to Claim 1. Also, abbreviated names ofrespective components shown in Table 4 are as follows.

Yellow pigment (trade name “CAB-O-JET 270”, manufactured by CabotCorporation)

Black pigment (trade name “MCF88”, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals,Inc.)

Urethane resin (trade name “Takelac WS-6021”, manufactured by MitsuiChemicals, Inc.)

Surfactant (trade name “BYK-306”, manufactured by BYK Japan K.K.)

Additive (trade name “Proxel CRL”, manufactured by ICI)

TABLE 4 Ink No. I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 I7 I8 I9 I10 I11 Solid content ofresin 10 3 3 12 12 2 14 12 4 10 Total amount of organic solvent 20 25 1810 20 16 15 7 33 20 Total amount of organic solvent/total 2.00 8.33 6.000.83 1.67 8.00 1.07 0.58 8.25 0.00 amount of solid content of resinTotal amount of solid content of 30.0 28.0 21.0 22.0 32.0 18.0 29.0 19.037.0 20.0 10.0 resin + total amount of organic solvent Solid content ofyellow pigment 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Solid content of black pigment 5Solid content of urethane resin 10 3 3 12 12 2 14 12 4 10 Glycerin 9 118 6 9 7 6 3 14 9 Triethylene glycol 5 6 5 2 5 4 4 2 9 5 Propylene glycol4 6 4 1 4 4 4 1 8 4 Triethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 22 Surfactant 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Variousadditives 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Water 64.4 66.473.4 72.4 62.4 76.4 65.4 75.4 57.4 74.4 84.4 Total 100 100 100 100 100100 100 100 100 100 100

4.2. Preparation of Ink Jet Printing Apparatus

As the ink jet printing apparatus including the printer head illustratedin FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, a modified device of SC-F2000(manufactured by Seiko Epson Corp.) was prepared. Three types of theheads H1 to H4 shown in Table 5 were used as the head.

TABLE 5 Printer head No. H1 H2 H3 H4 Length from pressure chamber to1000 100 1000 500 nozzle surface [μm] Nozzle pitch [dpi] 300 360 180 300Capacity of pressure chamber [pl] 2900 2900 3700 2900 Total capacity ofnozzle hole, 4200 3100 5000 3600 communicating hole, and pressurechamber

Here, the head H1 has a structure shown in FIG. 3 and the length fromthe bottom surface of the pressure chamber 20 to the nozzle surface 13,in other words, the distance of the connection portion 132 (d1+d2) is1000 μm, the nozzle pitch is 300 dpi, the capacity of the pressurechamber 20 is 2900 μl, and the sum of the capacity of the communicatinghole 127, the nozzle hole 12, and the pressure chamber 20 is 4200 μl.

The head H2 has a structure shown in FIG. 4. That is, the printer headH2 shown in FIG. 4 does not include a communicating hole, and thepressure chamber 20 indicates a space divided by the nozzle plate 10,the communicating plate 110, and the vibrating plate 30, which is aspace not including the nozzle hole 12 and the supply port 126. In thehead H2, the length from the bottom surface of the pressure chamber 20to the nozzle surface 13, in other words, the distance of the connectionportion 132 is the length of the nozzle hole 12, which is 100 μm, thesame as the thickness of the nozzle plate 10. Also, the nozzle pitch is360 dpi, the capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is 2900 μl, and the sumof the capacity of the nozzle hole 12 and the pressure chamber 20 is3100 μl.

The head H3 is a head having a similar structure to the head H1, thecapacity of the pressure chamber is greater, and the nozzle density islower than that of the head H1. That is, the distance of the connectionportion 132 is 1000 μm, the nozzle pitch is 180 dpi, the capacity of thepressure chamber 20 is 3700 μl, and the sum of the capacity of thecommunicating hole 127, the nozzle hole 12, and the pressure chamber 20is 5000 μl.

The head H4 is a head having a similar structure to the head H1, thedistance of the connection portion 132 is 500 μm, shorter than that ofthe head H1, and the capacity of the nozzle pitch and the pressurechamber 20 is the same as that of the head H1. That is, the nozzle pitchis 300 dpi, the capacity of the pressure chamber 20 is 2900 μl, and thesum of the capacity of the communicating hole 127, the nozzle hole 12and the pressure chamber 20 is 3600 μl since the distance of theconnection portion 132 is shorter than that of the head H1. In addition,in all of the heads, the nozzle size of the nozzle hole 12 is 20 μm.

4.3. Printing Recording Test

A printing recording test was performed on a cloth (manufactured byHanesbrands Inc., heavy weight, cotton 100%, white texture). The clothwas set into the aforementioned printer, and the ink was discharged fromthe head to attach the ink to the cloth. The mass of the ink per onedroplet was set as the values shown in Table 6, and the ink was attachedby adjusting dot resolution such that the ink attachment amount of therecording area is 15 mg/inch² to record an image. After the ink wasattached, the cloth was discharged and heated at a temperature of 170°C. for one minute to be dried, thereby obtaining a printed matter.However, the ink attachment amount of Example 7 was about 22% of otherExamples because Example 6 was an example in which the mass of the inkdroplet was reduced.

4.4. Evaluation of Printed Matter 4.4.1. Evaluation of Color DevelopingIntensity of Image

The L*value of an image of the printed matter was measured by acolorimeter (trade name “Gretag Macbeth Spectrolino”, manufactured byX-RITE Inc.) and evaluation was performed based on the followingevaluation standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: 94≤L*

A: 91≤L*<94

B: 89≤L*<91

C: L*<89

4.4.2. Evaluation of Washing Fastness

The printed matter was evaluated by a washing fastness test. The washingfastness test was performed based on “AATCC61 2A, 3A” and evaluation wasperformed based on the following evaluation standard. Also, thefollowing “2A” indicates that the printed matter was washed at atemperature of 25° C. and “3A” indicates that the printed matter waswashed at a temperature of 60° C. A Duty100% portion is the imageportion created by the aforementioned printing recording test, a Duty50%portion is the image portion created in the same manner except that theattachment amount is set to the half of Duty100%.

Evaluation Standard

AA: Under the condition of 3A, a film did not fall off in the Duty50%portion.

A: Under the condition of 3A, the film fell off in the Duty50% portion,and the film did not fall off in the Duty100% portion.

B: Under the condition of 3A, the film fell off even in the Duty100%portion, and under the condition of 2A, the film did not fall off evenin the Duty50% portion.

C: Under the condition of 2A, the film fell off in the Duty50% portion,and the film did not fall off in the Duty100% portion.

D: Under the condition of 2A, the film fell off even in the Duty100%portion.

4.4.3. Evaluation of Intermittency

Under the recording condition of the apparatus used in theaforementioned printing recording test, after the ink was continuouslydischarged for 5 minutes to an ink receiving portion presumed to be usedfor a long time and provided from the head to the platen side, and thehead was left alone for 1 minute, continuous discharging of the ink for5 minutes and leaving the head alone for 1 minute were conducted againand the above set was performed for 10 times. After the test wasfinished, the nozzle which did not discharge the ink was investigated,the number of the nozzle which did not discharge the ink was calculatedwith respect to the number of the used entire nozzles, and evaluationwas performed based on the following standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: less than 1%

A: equal to or more than 1% and less than 3%

B: equal to or more than 3% and less than 5%

C: equal to or more than 5% and less than 8%

D: equal to or more than 8%

4.4.4. Evaluation of Mist

Under the recording condition of the apparatus used in theaforementioned printing recording test, after the ink was continuouslyattached to the cloth for 5 minutes, the ratio of the area coated withthe ink liquid was measured in the area having a radius of 7 μm from thecenter of the nozzle row of the nozzle plate of the head, and evaluationwas performed based on the following standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: less than 10%

A: equal to or more than 10% and less than 30%

B: equal to or more than 30% and less than 50%

C: equal to or more than 50%

4.4.5. Evaluation of Color Developing Properties (Bleeding)

The image portion of the printed matter obtained in the printingrecording test was visually observed. Here, the attachment amount of theaforementioned printing recording condition was set to Duty100%, a solidpattern was printed under a condition of Duty10% and resolution 1440×720dpi and observed by an optical microscope having a magnification of 15,and evaluation was performed based on the following standard.

Evaluation Standard

AA: Dots scarcely bled.

A: Dots slightly bled.

B: A half of the dots bled.

C: Most of the dots bled.

4.5. Evaluation Result

The evaluation result of each Example and Comparative Example is shownin Table 6.

TABLE 6 Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5Example 1 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Printer head No. H1 H1 H1 H1 H1H2 H3 H3 H1 Ink No. I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 I1 I1 I1 I6 Weight of ink per 7 7 7 77 7 31 7 7 one ink droplet [ng/dot] Color developing A A A A A A C A Aproperties (bleeding) Color developing A A A A A A A C A intensityIntermittency A AA AA B A C A A AA Washing fastness A B B AA AA A A A CMist A A AA AA B A A A AA Comparative Comparative Example 9 Example 10Example 11 Example 12 Example 2 Example 3 Printer head No. H1 H1 H1 H4H1 H1 Ink No. I7 I8 I9 I2 no 111 Weight of ink per 7 7 7 7 7 7 one inkdroplet [ng/dot] Color developing A A A A A A properties (bleeding)Color developing A A A A A A intensity Intermittency B C AA A AA DWashing fastness AA AA B B D A Mist C AA C A AA C

As clarified from the result of Table 6, in Examples 1 to 5 and 12, inwhich the printer heads H1, H3, and H4 in which the length from thepressure chamber to the nozzle surface is 500 μm or more, and the inksI1 to I5 are combined, all of the evaluations were satisfactory. Also,in Example 6, since the maximum mass per one droplet of the dischargedink composition was 31 ng, bleeding was observed in the image. Also, inExample 7, since the nozzle pitch was small, the color developingintensity of the image was relatively deteriorated as a result.

In Example 8, the printer head H1 was used, since the amount of thesolid content of the resin with respect to the used ink composition wassmall, the washing fastness was relatively deteriorated as a result. InExample 9, since the amount of the solid content of the resin withrespect to the used ink composition was great, the intermittency wasslightly deteriorated, and generation of the mist resulted in acontamination of the nozzle surface. In Example 10, since the ratio ofthe total content of the organic solvent with respect to the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin was small, it was observedthat the ink was dried and the intermittency was relatively deterioratedas a result. In Example 11, since the sum of the total content of theorganic solvent and the total content of the solid content of the resinwas greater than 35% by mass with respect to the ink composition, thewashing fastness was slightly deteriorated and generation of the mistresulted in a contamination of the nozzle surface.

In contrast, in Comparative Example 1, in which the communicating holeis not included and the head H2 in which the length from the pressurechamber to the nozzle surface is short was used, the ink was dried fromthe nozzle surface and the intermittency was deteriorated as a result.In Comparative Example 2 in which the ink not including the resin wasused, the washing fastness was deteriorated as a result. In ComparativeExample 3 in which the ink not including the organic solvent was used,drying of the ink from the nozzle surface not only deteriorated theintermittency, but also generation of the mist in a large amountresulted in a contamination of the nozzle surface.

As such, according to the ink jet printing method according to theinvention, by using the head included in the range of the invention, itis clarified that adhesion (washing fastness) of the ink to the clothcan be enhanced, while the ink is prevented from becoming dried from thenozzle surface and the discharge reliability is secured; furthermore,generation of the mist can be suppressed at the time of discharging andgeneration of the bleeding of the ink can be prevented, while the colordeveloping intensity of the image is secured. Also, it is clarified thatby using the head included in the range of the invention and furtheradjusting the composition of the ink, each of the effects can be furtherenhanced.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment,and further can be modified variously. For example, the inventionincludes the substantially same configuration (for example, aconfiguration of which a function, method, and result are the same, or aconfiguration of which a purpose and result are the same) as theconfiguration stated in the embodiment. In addition, the inventionincludes a configuration of which a non-essential part stated in theembodiment is substituted. In addition, the invention includes aconfiguration exhibiting the same effect, or a configuration capable ofachieving the same purpose stated in the embodiment. In addition, theinvention includes a configuration in which the well-known technology isadded to the configuration stated in the embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ink jet printing method comprising: attachingan ink composition to a cloth by using a printer head which has a nozzledischarging the ink composition, a pressure chamber for impartingpressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle to discharge the inkcomposition, and a connection portion connecting the pressure chamberand the nozzle, and in which a distance of the connection portion is 500□m or more, the distance of the connection portion being from a portionof the pressure chamber where the ink flows out from a pressure chamberto the nozzle side to the nozzle, wherein the ink composition includeswhite pigments and the resin as a solid content in the amount of 10% bymass to 26% by mass with respect to the ink composition, the ratio ofthe total content of the organic solvent to the total content of thesolid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, and a sum of the totalcontent of the solid content of the resin and the total content of theorganic solvent is 37% by mass or less with respect to the inkcomposition.
 2. The ink jet printing method according to claim 1,wherein, in the attaching of the ink composition, the maximum mass is 30ng or less per one ink droplet of the discharged ink composition.
 3. Theink jet printing method according to claim 1, wherein, in the printerhead, the total capacity of the pressure chamber per pressure chamberand the connection portion is 4200 μl to 6200 μl.
 4. The ink jetprinting method according to claim 1, wherein the capacity of thepressure chamber per pressure chamber is 3700 μl or less.
 5. The ink jetprinting method according to claim 1, wherein the printer head includesa communicating plate provided with a communicating hole whichconfigures a part of the connection portion.
 6. The ink jet printingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising: attaching a reactionliquid including an aggregating agent for aggregating or thickening acomponent of the ink composition to the cloth.
 7. The ink jet printingmethod according to claim 11, wherein the printer head includes aplurality of nozzles discharging the ink composition in a row, and thenozzle density in the row direction is 200 dpi or more.
 8. The ink jetprinting method according to claim 1, wherein the maximum ink attachmentamount to the cloth is 100 mg/inch2 or more.
 9. An ink jet printingapparatus for performing printing by the ink jet printing method ofclaim 1.